LISA
BELINDA
TAYLOR

1. How long have you been practicing?

Since 2014, I have been providing individual psychotherapy as well as leading and creating curriculums for group therapy. 

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2. What education do you have?

M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling--Mercer University Atlanta, GA 

B.A. Psychology--Brewton Parker College Mt. Vernon, GA

3. What certifications do you have?

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Foundations training Portland, OR

• Stewards of Children Certified Atlanta, GA--Training that empower communities to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The only nationally available program scientifically proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and change child-protective behaviors. 

• Narrative Therapy Care Across the Health Professions certification--University Paris Diderot

• Stichting Counselling Nederland certification in multicultural implications in counseling Netherlands 

4. Do you have any areas of specialization, and what are they?

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Relationships/Intimacy

• Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders

• Meal Support

• Body Image 

• Cultural & Identity Issues

• Life Transitions

• Self-Care & Skills Coaching

• Racial Trauma & Healing

5. How does your personality influence your approach to therapy?

I’m the kind of person who typically stays calm under pressure and performs well when it’s down to the wire. I consider myself a bit of a master of metaphors that previous clients have told me to be the most helpful in understanding their problems. I never claim to know everything while balancing my confidence in my training and intuitiveness. Empathy is something I lead with in my personal life as well as with working with folks who feel vulnerable and fearful of being judged. Although I am a Millennial, I feel that my “useless” knowledge of pop culture and meme use to be quite helpful. Since the start of quarantine (March 2020), I can confidently say I am fluent in TikTok (if you know, you know). With all seriousness, I am a curious about the depths of human nature and make constant efforts to understand my clients’ true feelings and actions. While I am a sensitive person, I am a first generation Filipina American raised in South Georgia which has given me a “thick skin” to issues of race and cultural differences. 

My approach to working with clients is a collaborative one. I believe despite where you are in your journey, you are the expert. While I am a supportive party in your mental health and healing. For those who struggle with eating disorders, anxiety, and/or depression, I uphold trauma informed care. I support the (HAES) Health At Every Size model which recognize that health outcomes are primarily driven by social, economic, and environmental factors, requiring a social and political response. While supporting people of all sizes in adopting healthy behaviors. I am a fat positive provider. 

I am an LGBTQ+ ally and an active advocate in my community. I aim to provide a framework for creating safe, supportive, and caring relationships with LGBTQ+ individuals, groups, and communities that foster self-acceptance and personal, social, emotional, and relational development. 

6. What therapeutic approaches, or philosophies do you use/have experience using?

As a trauma informed therapist, I use DBT & CBT principles for skills coaching and use these values in collaboration with your goals in therapy while providing an open, safe, and caring environment. 

7. What do you view as a key component of the therapeutic alliance/relationship?

I do believe you are the expert in your own life and do not pretend to know you better than you know yourself. I only want to provide support to help you navigate through your issues in a way that empowers you and meets your needs. 

8. What’s the most profound, insightful, or interesting thing you’ve learned as a mental health professional?

It’s seems so simplistic, but throughout my training, one thing that has stayed with me and I use in practice is that “you are not your thoughts.” Another is having a mindfulness practice.

9. Which beliefs play a large role in your life?

Loyalty, authenticity, empathy, kindness, passion, and open-mindedness among many others. I support others’ right to live as they see fit as long as no one is being hurt. I am someone who gives my whole heart to ideas and movements that captures me and speaks to my beliefs. 

10. Which roles do you play in your own life?

Aside from being a mental health practitioner, I am a daughter, sister, partner, and the lucky “fur mama” to a tabby cat Jon Snow and Shiba Inu named after my favorite dessert, Mochi. 

11. Why did you choose to become a mental health professional?

I am one of the lucky few who has always known what kind of work I wanted to do, which is to help people. My father was an older parent. Old enough to also be my grandfather. His belief in mental health issues were to “pull yourself up by the boot straps” mentality. My mother, who is a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, did not have the resources or knowledge about mental health issues either. Although I had amazing loving parents, I struggled immensely with my mental health. Going to college allowed me to use the student resource center where I was able to educate myself and get the help I needed. This is where I met a carousel of mental health therapists that looked nothing like me and often invalidated my experiences. I found myself constantly having to educate my counselors on the multicultural implications of being a first generation kid and the struggles of not being white enough to fit in the culture I grew up in. While also not being Filipino enough to fit in with the kids who were fluent in Tagalog. I believe these experiences propelled me into the mental health profession. 

12. What do you love most about being a mental health professional?

Getting to know my clients personally and seeing them grow and meet goals is definitely the #1 thing I love most. I genuinely have always loved reading, watching, and following psychology, self-help/improvement, and spirituality subjects my whole life. Outside of therapy sessions, I still read and watch various subjects on mental health for fun. I often get asked if I ever get bored, but the truth is that improving mental health and helping others in the process is my  passion. Going to conferences and lectures are also a favorite of mine. I read and watch it all so you don’t have to.