Lisa Van Der Merwe, LCSW- Licensed Psychotherapist
My career in mental health began 22 years ago at Johns Hopkins Hospital where I counseled people effected by medical trauma, substance abuse, and psychiatric issues. I then went on to supervise an addiction treatment program for pregnant women and provided school-based counseling to children and teens. Later in my career I worked in managed care, where I served as Regional Vice President of Clinical Operations at UnitedHealthcare (OptumHealth) and held management and clinical program development positions at Cigna. Since 2011 I have maintained a full-time private practice serving Alpharetta and the surrounding communities.
I received a Master of Clinical Social Work degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore (1997) and a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. I am licensed in the State of Georgia as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), hold certification in Intrinsic Coaching, Dr. McBride’s ‘Will I Ever Be Good Enough’ (WIEBGE) narcissistic abuse recovery program, am Certified Clinical Trauma Professional trained, and am a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
On a more personal note, I am married and have two children. Originally I’m from Baltimore, and for the past 13 years Alpharetta has been my home.
I feel honored that my clients have entrusted me to support and guide them, and I never fail to be inspired by what I see them achieve. Please let me know how I can assist you.
The WIEBGE acronym stands for Will I Ever Be Good Enough? and signifies certification in Dr. Karyl McBride’s five-step recovery model for treating adult children of narcissistic parents.
Clinical Trauma Professional Training provided by IATP International Association of Trauma Professionals