Hi my name is Lisa. I am 36 years old and have a lot of experience in public service. I was a police officer and more recently a detective for 10 years working special victims. While working police work I also volunteered on a fire and rescued squad as a firefighter and advanced EMT. While working as a police officer I decided to go back to school and got my degree in social work. I became a social worker and began my career working as an investigator for child protective services. Because of my extensive criminal investigative history I would always get assigned the most egregious cases. I also worked in a specialized unit called the drug affected infant unit where I worked with moms who were currently using drugs while pregnant. I transitioned out of this role and began working as a treatment foster care licensing worker and adoption investigator.

I have substantial experience with the child welfare system and trauma within the child welfare system. I am a former foster youth, adoptee, former foster parent, former guardian of kin, and adoptive parent of kin. I can appreciate the viewpoints from a lot of different lived experiences who have been in the child welfare system. Due to my lived experiences I’m able to see situations and perspectives from many different lenses. 

i have completed numerous trainings and certifications related to; trauma, vicarious trauma, adoption trauma, childhood adverse experiences (ACE’s), prenatal mood disorders, infant death investigations, secondary trauma, first responder trauma, depression, anxiety, SAFE home studies (adoption home studies), safe families, perinatal mood disorders, adoption competency, Wisconsin child welfare model, investigations practices, certified intake worker, and mitigation of safety concerns to name a few.

I specialize in taking with adoptees. Specifically scenarios like adoptees who are:

• Struggling with adoption trauma, understanding/processing their emotions surrounding their adoption
• Struggling with their reunion with their biological families or struggling with their adoptive parents
• Have over all questions about how to obtain their adoption records
• How to have courageous conversations with their adoptive families 
• Who need to understand how their emotions maybe related to their adoption 
• Plus much more 

Additionally adoptive parents who would like to learn from an adoptee about the voices of lived experience. How to best advocate for their adoptive child and how to be the most supportive and trauma informed parent you can be. 

I also specialize in first responder struggles. Being a first responder for most of my life I have seen it all. The weight of those experiences can get extremely heavy and you can’t just talk to anyone about how you’re feeling because they won’t understand. Plus there has always been a stigma of seeking help as a first responder in fear of losing your job or being put on leave. I like to offer a safe place for any first responder be able to communicate to me without fear of being stigmatized at work and have a safe place to come too to vent and share dark humor. 

I will always sit with anyone who is struggling no matter where they come from or who they are. No matter their background or circumstances. I seek to understand and never cast judgement. I want to support whoever I can because I know what it’s like to be all alone when you you’re lost.