Are you struggling with sex addiction, infidelity, or betrayal? I specialize in helping individuals and couples heal from these challenges. Life can be full of difficult situations; sometimes it feels like we're facing them alone. Betrayal, deception, struggles with compulsive sexual behavior - these are not easy roads to travel. Finding support and healing can feel like an uphill battle. I create a safe and nurturing environment where you can openly share your concerns and fears without judgment. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I have the experience and expertise to help guide you through these difficult times. With a focus on trauma-informed care, healing from betrayal, and exploring and gaining confidence in your strength, I offer a safe and healthy environment to find the solutions that work for you. I create a non-judgmental and supportive therapy setting, so you don't have to face these challenges alone. Together, you can overcome your problems and navigate life's most challenging situations.

Lisa Bahar is a licensed psychotherapist who practices out of Newport Beach and Laguna Niguel, California providing individual, couples, family and group therapy. Lisa Bahar provides DBT Informed Skills Training for clients seeking "life skills" or who have difficulties managing emotions, communicating effectively, dealing with stress and anxiety. The DBT Informed Skills Training groups are based on Marsha M. Linehan's DBT Second Edition Handouts and Worksheets which provides the most up to date material on DBT skills and trainings. Lisa's first career in the cinema has brought her to a unique intervention in her therapeutic approach called Cinema Therapy, which uses film stories to create connection to experiences clients may be experiencing. She utilizes Cinema Therapy in all aspects of her groups and psychotherapy based on the client's need and interest. Lisa Bahar also serves as a consultant to 100s of media outlets including radio, television, magazines, blogs, books and internet magazines and outlets by providing her insights on mental health.

Searching for a new therapist can be a difficult and confusing experience, so I am glad that you have made it this far. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming for people to face their challenges that it is easier to just avoid it all together. So, congratulations on taking this first step and searching. Taking care of your emotional health is such an important and worthwhile endeavor, and I firmly believe that every person could benefit from quality psychotherapy. Your life is precious and sometimes it can be a bit scary to let somebody new into it, so I am honored that you are taking the time to consider me as your therapist. The best thing you can do is give me a call so that we can chat person-to-person and discuss how I can help. Over the course of my career it has become clearer to me that life is just hard sometimes, plain and simple. We all go through emotional struggles, no matter where we come from. Most of the time we can get knocked down, pick ourselves back up and keep moving along the path of life. Sometimes, though, these challenges can be so significant that they get in the way of us living the lives we want to live. We can't think as clearly. We don't work as well. We don't love as well. We sometimes don't know why we're even here. I have faith that through psychotherapy, you can break free from the obstacles that keep you suffering and learn a new way to live that restores your life to a happy and meaningful journey. I consider myself to be a loving, kind, and thoughtful therapist. I believe in my clients, and I work with them as a team. Sometimes I am here to listen when no one else will. Sometimes I am here to offer solutions that my clients haven't thought of. Everyday I make it a goal to restore hope for my clients that they CAN be the happiest they've ever been before. I truly love this work and consider it a privilege.

Together we will walk through your growth, always providing the safety and support that your healing requires. It is of great importance for me to establish safety for my clients by committing time and care to each individual, both inside and outside of scheduled sessions. I provide scheduling flexibility and off-the-clock support (such as email check-ins throughout the week) as a way of meeting my clients where they are and solidifying a firm therapeutic relationship as you move through your healing. Together we will brainstorm coping activities and tools geared towards your specific needs. I have a firm belief that psychoeducation, or learning about one’s own psychology, is an integral part of the healing process. Together we will utilize psychoeducation and the individualized coping skills needed for you to transform your life.

IF YOU WANT THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT, YOU HAVE TO DO THEM DIFFERENTLY! Life has a flow. When the flow is blocked, we suffer. Suffering takes form in many ways and affects every aspect of our lives. Trauma, adverse life events and sudden tragic circumstances all contribute to suffering. The manifestations appear as drug and alcohol dependence, depression, and anxiety. The consequences can be physical in nature, such as chronic pain and stress, mental in nature, such as isolation and fear, and spiritual in nature, when all hope seems lost. My approach is to help you unblock the natural flow of your life. Regain balance and empowerment in the areas of romance, finance, sex and spirituality. Combining EMDR and Mindfulness therapies, I can help you find your FLOW: Fulfillment, Liberation, Ownership and Well-Being. You can choose a better way to live. You can live the life you choose. Now is as good a time as any!

I create a non-judgmental, warm, and welcoming space for each of my clients and it would be an honor to share some time with you. If you’re here because you’ve been struggling with a life change, feel overwhelmed by anxiety, want to improve your relationships, or you’re seeking support for other challenges, then you’ve come to the right place. With extensive experience working with individuals, couples, families, and teens, I embrace every client with a multiculturally informed, strengths-based approach. I’m an active therapist who will encourage, kindly challenge, and help you to truly grow in our work together. It would be my honor to support you. I love using evidence-based practices that are tailored to each client's specific needs. By incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and other third-wave modalities, I support my clients in developing groundedness, mental flexibility, and clarity to live a better today and tomorrow.

I hold a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, which has equipped me with the knowledge and expertise to address a wide range of emotional and relational issues. My education and ongoing training allow me to provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions and support tailored to your unique needs. Deciding if it's the right time for therapy can be a deeply personal choice. If you're experiencing emotional distress, facing life transitions, or struggling with relationships, therapy can be a beneficial resource. It's essential to acknowledge your own readiness and willingness to engage in the therapeutic process. Therapy can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing. In my practice, I incorporate several therapeutic modalities, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR is an evidence-based therapy used to treat trauma, anxiety, and other emotional distress. It involves a structured eight-phase approach, including assessment, desensitization, and reprocessing, helping individuals process and heal from distressing experiences.

I'm interested in your life story thus far. As your therapy journey begins, it's helpful to consider being open-minded to get the most out of each session. I've found honesty and vulnerability lay the foundation to building a new freedom. Yes, I realize this is challenging, so let's take our time (baby steps) and see where the current of this journey takes us. Therapy does require commitment which will benefit you. With your permission, I find it important to consider our pasts (family & personal relationships). What experiences (negative or positive) have we learned from these relationships; as individuals and couples, are there any resulting effects on our communication skills, thoughts & behaviors, strengths & weaknesses. In therapy sessions, let's explore and discover any underlying issues. Negative life experiences can have long-term emotional effects which many fail to realize. We can address and process various forms of trauma & abuse and their effects on us (e.g., maladaptive behaviors, depression, and anxiety). Many of us walk around with heavy baggage from past abuse and trauma(s). Now that you're here, let's begin to unload all that baggage weight. Working with people of various ages and ethnicities is an honor. There's nothing more rewarding than being able to witness positive results and healthy outcomes for my clients. With my guidance and support, it's important that my clients know they do most of the work. For many, this is the first time for new experiences in a session: validation, new awareness, empathy, compassion, self-introspection, having a voice, self-care, experiencing emotional reactions, addressing pain and looking at life through a new lens. These are all part of the healing process and assist in strengthening resilience. I've worked with adolescents, adults, older adults in individual, couples and group therapy settings.

Feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, lonely, or stuck? Struggling with self-esteem, relationships, motivation, or achieving your goals? Therapy can help you develop insight, understanding, and skills to manage these stressors and grow. My hope as a therapist is to foster a safe and nurturing relationship in which together we can explore and make sense of your history and experiences. Through this process we will help you develop inner strength, increased self-awareness, and develop the ability to make meaningful changes in your life. Please feel free to reach out for a free phone consultation, I look forward to speaking with you.

Modern life asks a lot of us. You might look like you have it together—thriving in your career, keeping up with relationships, managing endless responsibilities—yet inside, you feel anxious, burnt out, or disconnected. If you’ve been overthinking, carrying the weight of everyone else’s needs, or wondering why “having it all” still doesn’t feel like enough, you’re not alone. I offer modern therapy for modern life. That means therapy that meets you where you are today: collaborative, warm, and practical. In our work together, we’ll slow things down so you can untangle what’s really happening beneath the surface. We’ll explore the deeper “why” behind your patterns while also building tools you can use in real time—whether that’s navigating stress, setting boundaries, or finding balance in your relationships. My approach blends Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic insight, and cognitive-behavioral strategies. Sessions are structured but never rigid—you can expect a space that’s both supportive and gently challenging, where you’ll feel seen and encouraged to grow. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping you feel more grounded, more connected, and more yourself.

Life can be messy and overwhelming, and seeking support is a courageous step. I provide a warm, welcoming space to help you work through challenges, heal from past experiences, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or just not like yourself? If your mind races, sleep feels elusive, and you're constantly drained, you're not alone. I believe everyone is doing the best they can with what they have, and that with the right support, we can all move toward greater happiness and wholeness. I'm here to help you identify and overcome the blocks that are holding you back. I specialize in working with individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and chronic health challenges. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care and draws from EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and other evidence-based modalities. I treat the whole person, not just a list of symptoms. In addition to traditional mental health training, I hold certifications in nutrition and integrative medicine for mental health, and I often incorporate lifestyle, nutrition, and body-based practices into the healing process. If you're curious about working together, I offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. I'd be honored to support you on your path toward feeling better - mind, body, and spirit.