Meet Dr. Lisa kruger, PhD, LPC
I provide therapy that's compassionate enough to support you—and direct enough to create real change.
For more than 20 years, I've helped people better understand themselves, navigate difficult experiences, and make meaningful changes in how they think, feel, and approach their lives.
in-person in Alexandria, VA and online THROUGHOUT Virginia and DC
Where are you now? Where do you want to be? My job is to help you get there.
Therapy with me is a two-way conversation. I’ll give you honest feedback, help you connect the dots in ways you hadn’t considered, and challenge you with care when I think it’ll help. Together, we’ll figure out what you can do differently so you can start to feel different, too.
I measure how well our work is going by the difference it makes in your everyday life. I want you to come away thinking, “I’m glad I did this,” because you’re seeing the changes you came here for.
In our sessions, you can expect:
Active engagement. I'll listen, ask thoughtful questions, and offer perspectives that help you see things differently.
Compassion without judgment. You'll have room to speak openly, even about things that are difficult to say out loud.
Direct feedback. I'll be supportive, but I won't shy away from challenging something that may be holding you back.
Practical tools you can take with you and use in real life—not just in the therapy room
A collaborative approach. We'll work together to understand what you need and find ways to make progress that feels meaningful to you.
Insight matters. So does what you do with it.
I’ll help you connect the dots between what you’ve experienced and how you think, feel, and react today. That can help make sense of reactions you’ve had a hard time understanding.
I’ll ask questions that get us a little deeper, point out patterns I’m seeing, and challenge you when I think something is worth a closer look. Then we’ll take what we’ve worked through in session and figure out how you can use it when those same situations come up in your everyday life.
What would it take to feel different?
Together, we’ll go beyond talking things through. We’ll look at how what you’ve been through still shapes the way you think, feel, and respond today. That gives us a place to start figuring out why certain things keep getting to you and what might help you respond differently.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach here. What we focus on depends on your experiences, your needs, and what you want to understand or change.
what i can help you with
Therapy for Grief, Loss, and Life Transitions
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CBT focuses on the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we'll look at the thoughts and behaviors that may be contributing to anxiety, depression, overwhelm, or self-criticism and develop healthier, more balanced ways of responding.
CBT is practical and goal-oriented, offering concrete tools and strategies to help you notice how your thoughts and emotions affect the choices you make in everyday life.
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TF-CBT helps you understand how difficult experiences may continue to influence your thoughts, emotions, and responses in the present.
Our work may involve identifying beliefs shaped by past experiences, developing ways to manage difficult emotions, and processing what happened so those experiences have less influence over how you navigate your life today.
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DBT helps you manage intense emotions, navigate stressful situations, and respond more effectively when things feel overwhelming. It emphasizes practical skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
In our work together, we may draw on DBT strategies to help you handle difficult emotions, communicate your needs, set boundaries, and respond to challenging situations in ways that better serve you.
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EFT helps people better understand their emotions and the deeper needs underneath them. This approach can be especially helpful for people who feel disconnected, emotionally overwhelmed, caught in repetitive relationship dynamics, or unsure how to express what they’re feeling.
Rather than just talking about problems intellectually, EFT helps create deeper emotional understanding and connection.
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An attachment-based approach explores how past experiences and relationships can shape the way you view yourself, manage emotions, and relate to others. Sometimes the ways we cope today developed as ways to protect ourselves earlier in life.
This work can help you better understand your emotional responses, build more secure relationships, and develop a stronger sense of self-awareness and trust in yourself.
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The Gottman Method is a research-based approach to couples therapy focused on helping partners improve communication, navigate conflict more effectively, and strengthen emotional connection.
In our work together, we may focus on understanding recurring patterns, rebuilding trust, increasing emotional intimacy, and creating healthier ways of communicating and responding to one another.
my therapeutic approaches
Training & Experience
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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Counselor Education and Supervision
Master of Science in Professional Counseling (MS)
Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia (#0701005880) and the District of Columbia (PRC14247)
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Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Find Me On
In The Media
Counseling Today: “Standing in the Shadow of Addiction”
VOA News: “This Shared Fear Unites Us During Pandemic”
HRCI: “How to Help Employees Cope With Anxiety in Times of Crisis”
Health Digest: “A Mental Health Expert Debunks the Biggest Myths About Therapy”
Docuseries Guest Expert: “My Name is Anxiety”