Lisa Tarsa

Background

About Lisa Tarsa

As a school counselor and life coach, I am passionate about guiding others toward discovering and expressing their inner strengths, innate gifts and authenticity. I love helping children, teens and adults lead healthier, happier lives! I consider myself a catalyst for positive change, aiming to enhance wellness, balance, clarity, success and joy. Experience: School counselor providing therapeutic strategies to assist children and teens in achieving personal, social and academic success. I integrate strength-based, solution-focused techniques and cognitive behavioral, reality, and person-centered approaches to address issues such as anxiety, anger, grief, coping and social skills, self-confidence, and academic performance. I teach developmental guidance aimed to foster social emotional learning, and a positive climate. I co-wrote the k-2 developmental guidance curriculum currently used in the district, integrating lessons from the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement Program-a powerful and proactive mental health initiative. The curriculum also introduces positive character traits and tools for growth mindset, conflict resolution, stress reduction, self-awareness and self-regulation. In my practice, I incorporate restorative practices and experiential learning, including yoga and mindfulness. I facilitate small groups and provide individual counseling sessions help remove blocks to learning, improve self-regulation, self-confidence and social skills. I have more than 10 years of experience counseling and teaching children. I have also worked with teens and adults toward positive outcomes. I connect well with people of all ages, and my strong oral and written communication skills have been consistently demonstrated in my current work and prior positions in public relations and publishing. Education: Master's degree in school counseling, 068 CT certification; Holistic Life Coach certification; Success Coach Certification and Happiness Coach Certification through Robert Holden training; Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement Enrichment training; YogaKids Foundations certification; YogaFit Level 1 training; Restorative Practice. Specialties: Stress reduction and relaxation techniques including yoga and mindfulness; promoting wellness; girls and women's issues including relational aggression, body image, empowerment, healthy choices and social emotional learning (SEL).