Self Development Adviser/ MH Counselor

Outside the arts, yet with an approach incorporating creativity, Lisa had been a counselor in self & professional development and mental health since University years where she studied English, teaching and applied music.  With her work at Chatham University's Center for Professional Development, through years at a psychosocial rehab agency and behavioral health organization, to employment and training agencies... Lisa has felt part time work within the human dynamics of the counseling profession to be rewarding and even at times complementary to her music and writing.  See her Bio if interested in more specifics and do not hesitate to contact with any query on this or her other creative work over the years.  She is still available for advisements, group workshops and the like.

For years, Lisa was a teaching artist, utilizing creative music workshops and improvisation classes with children and young adults.  Much in the manner that her counseling work infuses a myriad of creative aspects, her teaching was interdisciplinary in scope... never mere formal music training. Bio has more specs. on this work she continues to hold close to heart and ever able to share.

Lisa produced and directed, as well as wrote original music for, a grant-funded performance piece entitled "Presence" in '99.  It was based on a short, early literary poem of hers, about finding authentic sense of self.  Cross-disciplinary, it was a collaboration involving Jungian therapists, a movement artist and glass artists.  It was performed twice, the latter being at the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre in the East Liberty section of Pgh.  Many excerpts of it can be viewed on Youtube, where there is also  extensive info., artists statements and more in the Description. The work was even showcased at a PA NAMI mental health conference where Lisa also engaged teachers and parents in interactive workshops.

Lisa was called upon aplenty as a speaker after her two books were published ('02, '07) and she has credits as well  for her mental health workshops and speaking engagements advocating for families of those with mental illness, and even self and professional development in business.  See bio if  more info is desired.  

Since approx. 2022, a couple decades after her first book was published, Lisa began to post excerpts of it and her second book in creative arts, historical and neighborhood social media groups to great interest.  Around the same time, she renewed her ability to blog post on aspects of her work over the years by publishing on Substack.com.  Because her posts, essays and articles-- especially those of historic Allegheny City (her home, the North Side of Pittsburgh)-- were more well received than she expected, she even began to do speaking engagements again in 2025, something she has long credits for back particularly from 2002-2012.

In Dec. 2025, Lisa spoke to the West View Historical Society (North Pgh), and to the Grove City Historical and Museum Society (northern PA) in June 2026.  Both engagements were over her best-selling regional title "Resurrecting Allegheny City:  The Land, Structures & People of Pittsburgh's North Side," now in 7th printing.