Ryan Lisman , LPCC

Ryan Lisman is a California-licensed psychotherapist who brings five years of professional experience to his clinical work. He holds the LPCC credential, which stands for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and practices in Pasadena while also working as a psychotherapist and registered drama therapist at the Huntington Hospital mental health unit. He combines formal training with lived experience as a long-term therapy client to inform an empathic, down-to-earth approach to care.

He works with a wide range of concerns including stress and anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, LGBT-related issues, self-esteem and motivation, addictions, relationship and family challenges, grief, and intimacy-related matters. He also addresses attachment and abandonment concerns, body image and eating issues, codependency, communication and control problems, dissociation, and the effects of major life changes. He draws on a variety of clinical tools to meet the needs of different clients rather than relying on a single method.

Ryan primarily utilizes a humanistic, client-centered framework that emphasizes unconditional positive regard and empowers clients to guide the therapy process. He is also a registered drama therapist, offering embodied and creative techniques that can help people process emotions, build confidence, and explore interpersonal patterns. He invites prospective clients to share their preferences for style and technique so that treatment can be tailored to individual goals and circumstances.

He is passionate about supporting growth and resilience, and he encourages those considering therapy to recognize the courage it takes to begin the work.

Humanistic and Creative Approaches Offered Online

Ryan frequently uses a humanistic, client-centered approach that emphasizes empathy, respect, and helping people discover their own strengths. This method supports work on self-esteem, motivation, anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, and coping with major life changes by centering the client's experience and goals.

He also integrates drama therapy techniques, a creative and embodied method that uses role, movement, and expressive exercises to help people process emotions, explore interpersonal dynamics, and practice new ways of relating. These techniques can be especially useful for trauma-related material, identity exploration, and rebuilding confidence.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the collaborative process. Ryan works with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and he adapts techniques over time based on what proves most helpful.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for clients with varied schedules and access needs. These options allow licensed professionals to provide consistent, ongoing support in ways that can be easier to fit into daily life while maintaining the therapeutic focus and continuity of in-person work.