Lisa Banner, LCPC
Lisa Banner is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. For over fifteen years, Lisa has worked with groups, individuals, adults, children, adolescents, and families. She is here to support her clients, introduce new life tools, offer new perspectives, and help her clients heal, grow, and overcome challenging situations.
Lisa has an extensive background working with depression, anxiety, self-injury, bipolar, ADD/ADHD, grief, addictions, executive functioning, divorce, blended families, parenting issues, women's issues, and transitional life changes.
To effectively identify, support growth, and create positive change, Lisa uses a collective approach utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and introduces her clients to Mindfulness.
A path of experience
When Lisa joined the Polaris Counseling team, she was concurrently the Director of Counseling at an all-girls Catholic high school in Lemont — private practice was her "after-school job." Today she is the executive director at home with a husband and three children (twin daughters and a son), seeing clients in the evenings and weekends.
Earlier in her career, Lisa served as a crisis counselor at an alternative therapeutic day school, a clinician for the DuPage County Health Department, and a case worker in a psychiatric group home.
Outside of the therapy room, Lisa loves her family, her friends, and the work she does. She enjoys teaching her children how to garden, explore, bike, travel, live simply, laugh at life, and be appreciative of the beauty around us. It really is the small things that matter the most.
Education & credentials
- M.A.Chicago School of Professional Psychology — focus on children and adolescents
- School Counseling LicenseNorthern Illinois University
- B.A.Webster University, St. Louis, MO — Go Cardinals!
Lisa's recommended readings
A small library Lisa returns to often — and shares with clients walking similar roads.
- Teens Who HurtHardy & Laszloffy
- CuttingSteven Levenkron
- Man's Search for MeaningViktor E. Frankl
- Mindfulness and PsychotherapyGermer, Siegel & Fulton
- TheraplayJernberg & Booth
- On Grief and GrievingKübler-Ross & Kessler
- Don't Sweat the Small StuffRichard Carlson
- Under PressureLisa Damour, Ph.D.
- Daring GreatlyBrené Brown
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage WorkGottman & Silver
- The 5 Love LanguagesGary Chapman
- 1-2-3 MAGICThomas W. Phelan, Ph.D.
- Stop Walking on EggshellsMason & Kreger
- Feeling GoodDavid D. Burns
- When Panic AttacksDavid D. Burns
- Creative Interventions for Children of DivorceLiana Lowenstein
"Lisa loves learning, and exploring."
Work with Lisa