Lissa brings nearly 30 years of experience in clinical and macro practice in social services with a specialization in the treatment of developmental trauma, substance use disorders, and a wide range of mental health issues.  One of her specializations (and topic of her PhD thesis) is Risk and Resilience in Young Adults. Lissa has devoted her life to serving those most impacted by their early experiences of trauma.  Her own life experiences and the early part of her career as a crisis counselor fueled and sustains her passion for helping others heal.

Lissa Ramsepaul holds a clinical license in social work in DC, MD, and VA.  She received her MSW and her PhD in Social work from the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Her dissertation topic, Risk and Resilience in Young Adults Who Have Experienced Homelessness, reflects her lifelong interest in work on the individual, community, and larger systemic levels to alleviate the impact of multifarious social issues and suffering among marginalized populations. 

In addition to her strong educational background in blending best practices of working with underserved populations with management, advocacy, and larger systemic change, she also brings nearly 3 decades of hands-on experience working in the non-profit sector. Lissa’s career progressed from direct services through all levels of organizational leadership, including serving as both an Executive Director and Founder and CEO.  She has lectured around the world on a variety of issues and was the keynote speaker at the 35th International Conference on Psychiatry & Psychosomatic Medicine in Brussels.  Lissa is also active in the academic and research community and teaches in both social work and psychology programs at several area universities. She has presented in at conferences around the world and engaged in charity work in Hyderabad, India, Madrid, Spain, and Uganda. In recent years, she has also been interviewed as an expert on Homelessness, and the cross-section of living with chronic mental illness and economic vulnerability. 

Lissa brings enthusiasm, dedication, and commitment to all areas of service, and is passionate about creating a stronger future society where fewer people around the world experience suffering while simultaneously providing ongoing care and support to those in need and those who provide services to them in the present. An active outdoors person and athlete, Lissa lives on a farm in Calvert County, MD with her 4 cats, 2 horses, and puppy. She is a devoted equestrian with a focus on dressage.

    Introduction of topic

        Definition of “challenging clients”
        Polling the group: In what types of settings do participants practice? How many see mandated clients?  How many see adolescent clients? How many see clients with a history of developmental trauma? How many see clients who have different cultural beliefs and experiences than themselves?
        Application of how the answer to each question can qualify clients for this approach.

(5 minutes)

    Review of Motivational Interviewing
        What is it?
        History of the development of MI
        Where is it applicable?
        Defining success

(15 minutes)

    What is Strengths Based Theory Really?
        Original definition from Denis Saleeby’s work
        How do we already use it?
        What are the ways that we deviate from implementing this approach?

(15 minutes)

    Engaging Challenging Clients

        Approaches to relationship building with mandated or reluctant clients
        Overcoming cultural competency issues
        Setting up the client as the expert
        Joint goal setting
        Assessment
        Challenges to implementation of this approach & ethical considerations

(30 minutes)

    Role Play Demo: Bringing it al together (5 minutes)
    Group Exercise: Role Plays & Debrief (20 minutes)
    Supporting staff into operationalizing this approach in your setting (20 minutes)
    Questions, Summary, and Wrap up (10 minutes)