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What They Say
"When I met Lise I was
sad, lonely, lost and scared. Feeling stuck in my sickness and reluctant
to leave behind the eating disorder that I’ve lived with for so long, Lise
provided me with a comfortable, warm and safe environment to begin talking
about my struggles, anxiety and fears. She speaks with authentic truth
without judgment and presents with a quiet strength and confidence. Her
infectious personality, compassionate smile and genuine concern allowed me
to open up, face my fears and begin my journey of recovery.
With Lise’s guidance, I was able to separate my healthy, soul self from my
eating disorder self. She walked side by side with me through “the fires”
of recovery and always greeted me on the other side with her beautiful
smile and unconditional commitment to leading me down each challenging,
recovery path. She helped me to embrace my healthy, soul self and find
connection within. My life is now radiating with spirit, happiness, hope
and love.
Thanks to Lise and my treatment team, I remained steadfast in my journey
of a complete recovery. I experienced a transformation of self, a
metamorphosis into the most beautiful, lively soul. I am so grateful to
Lise for all that she has done for me and all that she will continue to do
to help others. Lise Welsh is an amazing person and an extraordinary
therapist, no doubt in a league of her own." – T.H.
"By the time I started
seeing Lise for my eating disorder, I had been in and out of therapy for
many years. I had never really connected to a therapist and I didn't
anticipate it that being any different with her. I could not have been
more wrong. Like many people who are dealing with an eating disorder, I
had some major trust issues and even though I knew things weren't great in
my world, I wasn't really willing to admit that they were as bad as they
were. The first time I sat across from Lise, I knew that she was going to
help me change my life. She was kind, comforting, and safe, but more
importantly, she laughed with me, That was huge. She let me talk in the
ways that worked for me, and she talked to me like I was more than a
client. Lise celebrated the things that I had been taught to be ashamed
of. She was honest and open and would come to be my rock at a time in my
life where there was not a lot of consistency. Lise always told me the
truth as she saw it and even though I didn't always agree with her truth I
knew that she spoke it from a genuine place that could be trusted. We
didn't always see eye to eye but I learned to be safe in that space, in my
voice. She made it safe for me to use my voice no matter what it was that
I had to say. She taught me that I have value, that I am lovable and that
I am deserving of love. She is an amazing human being, and a brilliant
therapist." – A.K.
"I struggled with an eating disorder
for more than 15 years. I met Lise by chance in 1991 and though I wasn't
yet ready to admit that I needed help, I kept her card in my wallet for
two years. You could say that I had a feeling I would need it someday.
It took a lot of courage to call and make that first appointment with her.
I had never seen a therapist for anything and admitting that I had let
things get so far out of my control was hard. But from the first time I
sat down in her office, I knew I had made the right choice. Lise very
quickly made me feel accepted and comfortable. This is saying A LOT, given
the degree to which I hated who and what I had become at the time. When I
didn't know what to say or where to begin, Lise delicately (yet doggedly)
helped me get to the heart of things. I grew to realize that nothing I
shared would shock her into rejecting me; in fact, the more I shared the
more I felt understood. This was huge. I don't think I had ever felt
understood in my life.
I saw Lise very regularly for 3 years. It is no exaggeration on my part to
say that I wouldn't have been able to survive those three years without
her. So when I left Chico to attend grad school, losing contact with Lise
was what I feared most. But this is not what happened.
Lise has continued to be there for me whenever I've needed her. The years
since Chico were not all easy ones for me; an eating disorder is never an
easy fix. But knowing that I could get in touch with Lise--for a pep talk,
some reassurance, a good "kick in the butt" has made more of a difference
than I think even she understands. The truth is, I was not an easy client
for her. I was never an easy patient in treatment. Most everyone else who
ever tried to help me gave up at some point. Lise never did. She never
believed that I was hopeless. Never believed that I wouldn't come out the
other side. And her belief in my potential kept my belief in it alive. It
IS the reason that I AM alive. Without Lise's guidance and undying
patience, I would not be the happily married, mother of two, virtually
eating disorder-free person that I am.
There is no therapist I would more highly recommend to anyone. I wish that
everyone could have a Lise Welsh in their lives. She has truly made all
the difference in mine." – L.H.
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