About Lisa Riggs, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist · Author
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with over twenty years in practice. I specialize in trauma and use EMDR as my primary modality, working with people whose lives have been shaped by trauma, medical experiences, chronic pain, or early illness.
My specialty is trauma — particularly the kind that accumulates quietly over years and shapes how someone moves through their life. EMDR is at the center of what I offer, supplemented by trauma-focused, person-centered, and cognitive-behavioral approaches, tailored to what each client needs.
About my memoir — I’m also the author of All These Fish, a memoir about surviving childhood cancer, living with the medical long-term effects, and healing from trauma through EMDR. Available September 1, 2026.
Background and training — I earned my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and my doctorate in psychology from Pepperdine University. I’ve been licensed as a clinical psychologist since 2000, and I hold licenses in California (#16658) and Arizona (#PSY-005992).
Teaching Graduate — Professional Development Seminar; Approaches to the Treatment of Children; Developmental Care and Human Development Undergraduate — Introduction to Psychology; Counseling Skills Development; Psychology and Religion; Transitions, Loss, and Death; Theories of Personality; Research Methods; Mid-Child and Adolescent Development; Prenatal and Early Childhood Development; Psychology of the Exceptional Child; Group Dynamics
Professional memberships American Psychological Association (1993 – Present) EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)