Amy Neufeld is our Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents, and parents.
She believes strongly in the power of connection. The relationship Amy builds with each of her clients creates a space that fosters individual growth. Amy has spent over 20 years in the fields of education and psychology. She works to obtain a deep understanding of clients' challenges in order to tailor treatment to achieve lasting change.
Amy graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She earned a Master's degree from Pepperdine University in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Amy began her career in education as an elementary school teacher in Columbia, Maryland and then in Irvine, California. As an associate therapist, Amy assisted residents at the Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach. She also worked in private practice at South Coast Counseling and at AJNovick group. As a Laguna Beach resident for the past 25 years, Amy feels the importance of contributing to her community. She is involved in Laguna Beach School District's Parent Mentor program, a group that supports parents of special needs children.
Working with special needs children is near and dear to Amy's heart. In the classroom she taught children with unique needs. At home she has first-hand experience in connecting with the special needs world as she is raising her own child with Down syndrome. When not at work, Amy enjoys being outside running around with her three sons.
Lisi Harrison has worked with tweens and young adults for over twenty years and specializes in complicated friendship dynamics. An author since 2002, she wrote The Clique, which focuses on materialism, social hierarchies, and bullying. The series (2003-2011) sold more than eight million copies and was on the New York Times bestseller list for over two hundred weeks. Its spinoff, The Alphas, dives into the challenges of tween and teen relationships and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Monster High, a story about belonging, was an instant bestseller. In 2013 she released, Pretenders, which “leaks” the diary entries of five teens who betray themselves to fit in. In 2021 Lisi launched, Girl Stuff and The Pack. Both deal with friend drama and power clashes. Lisi is currently writing Graveyard Girls with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Krauss.
Lisi lives in Laguna Beach, California, where, along with Thrive, leads workshops for parents and kids who want drama-free friendships. For more information on her novels, visit LisiHarrison.com.
THRIVE is the first stop in your journey towards mental health. Our innovative approach focuses on connection. We believe that increasing your ability to connect allows you to discover who you are and promotes conscious decision making. This preventative approach strengthens coping mechanisms so you are armed and ready when life presents you with its challenges. We do recognize that there are times when you need support for issues that you are currently dealing with. This is where we help you reconnect and get you back to a place of well-being. We don’t want you to merely survive your life; our goal is for you to THRIVE!
At the helm of THRIVE are two specialists: a therapist and a growth + connection consultant. You will meet individually or in a group environment with one or both of our team members. The design of our program is to meet your unique needs in a variety of settings. We offer traditional therapy as well as innovative interventions to help you discover and grow. You may engage in games, crafts, or hikes giving you the space to connect with others and with yourself. In any session you participate in, you will always be met with empathy, compassion, and the commitment to helping you THRIVE.