Dr. Lisa Riggs

I am a licensed psychologist who earned my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and my doctorate in psychology from Pepperdine University, and I have been licensed as a psychologist since 2002.

I work with children, young adults, parents, and adults seeking trauma-focused therapy and EMDR Therapy. My clinical focus is helping people whose current struggles are rooted in past experiences that continue to affect their emotional or physical responses.

My communication style is warm, direct, and nonjudgmental. I value honest dialogue and work to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and understood. I’m thoughtful about pacing and collaboration, and I approach the work with care, steadiness, and clinical depth.

My approach is trauma-informed and centered on EMDR therapy. I help clients process and resolve the underlying experiences that continue to shape emotional and physical responses in the present. The work focuses on deep, nervous-system-level healing rather than surface-level symptom management.

I work collaboratively and with careful attention to pacing, safety, and readiness. As traumatic material is processed, many clients experience a natural reduction in symptoms and an increased sense of stability and ease.

The goal of therapy is not ongoing management of distress, but meaningful integration that allows for greater freedom, clarity, and connection.

The first session is focused on understanding what brings you to therapy and what you hope will change. I’ll ask about your current concerns, relevant history, and any questions you have about the therapy process. There is no expectation to share everything at once—we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

This session is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of how I work and whether the approach feels like a good fit. By the end of the session, we’ll have greater clarity about next steps and how we might work together moving forward.