Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa DeJarnette.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was a sensitive and deeply emotional child—passionate and creative, yet a dreamer who often felt out of place, even within my own family. I marched to the beat of my own drum, struggling to follow rules and often wandering so far outside the box that I didn’t even realize there was one. Despite this, I was intelligent and driven, curious and determined.
Throughout my journey of self-discovery, I made many mistakes, but I never stopped fighting to be seen and to find my purpose in life. I had a profound desire to love and be loved, but on the outside, I often appeared intense, emotional, and impulsive. Yet, I was also curious, empathic, persistent, and resilient—qualities that helped me navigate the adversities I faced, though I often felt alone along the way.
From an early age, I had an entrepreneurial spirit. My family teases me about how, as a small child, I became concerned with endangered species after reading about them in my Ranger Rick magazine. I devised a plan with a friend to raise money for their protection, while also allowing myself to buy lip gloss with some of the proceeds. I was creative and always looking for a win-win situation.
A turning point in my story came with a late diagnosis of ADHD. Despite being intelligent and a good student all my life, I nearly flunked out of college during my freshman year, struggling without the structure my family and community had provided. It wasn’t until after I had children that I discovered my ADHD. While I had developed many compensatory strategies and was intuitive, I found myself working incredibly hard to overcome executive functioning challenges, often burning out in the process. Receiving my diagnosis was crucial for understanding myself, but it was just the beginning of my journey. Learning about my differences—both the challenges and the strengths—was vital in helping me embrace my true self and stand confidently in my uniqueness.
This lifelong process of discovery, filled with trial and error, has taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, courage, and the power of connection and community. Research highlights the significance of positive social connections for our well-being; meaningful relationships can enhance our mental and emotional health, providing support during tough times. As they say, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. I care deeply, and my desire to help others with their stories has grown from this experience. In my psychotherapy practice, I work with individuals, couples, and groups, creating a safe and supportive environment where people can feel seen, known, loved, and accepted for who they are. I equip them with the tools and support they need to navigate their challenges on their own journey of healing and self-discovery.
My struggles in marriage were also a significant part of my personal growth and healing. Many of us enter marriage with unresolved issues from our past, often unaware of how these affect our relationships. Thirty-one years ago, there wasn’t much conversation around the challenges of marriage, and resources were scarce. My husband and I had to learn the hard way through trial and error. We eventually started a marriage ministry at our local church in Dublin, Ohio, recognizing the struggles others faced and the need for support and resources to help prevent divorce.
In our private practice, it has become both a mission and a calling to comfort and care for people, offering hope and healing. It taps into all the things that matter most to me. My father wanted to name me Hope, and I often think of it as a way to honor his memory by bringing hope to others. There’s so much pain and suffering in the world, and life can be incredibly challenging, but I want to make a difference with the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years.
They say grief must be witnessed, and my ability to sense and sit with difficult emotions has not only helped me through my own struggles but also allows me to support others in knowing they matter and are not alone. If I can hold space for others, where they feel seen, loved, and equipped to heal and recognize their worth, then I know I am doing my part to make a difference. It is such a powerful experience to witness others on their healing journeys and to be just a small part of their stories.
Brené Brown says it best: owning our stories and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do. Helping people find their way back to their authentic selves and connecting them with others to foster community, belonging, and meaning in their lives is a vital part of my work. We were meant to do life in relationship with others—we are better and stronger together.
Engaging in this meaningful work is a calling and it brings me so much fulfillment and gratitude. I find that as I strive to make a positive impact in the lives of those I serve and am privileged to get to work with, I am blessed in return.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! In addition to what I mentioned already, in 2015 the death of my father and other factors led us to uproot and move from Dublin to Mason Ohio. After being on my own I joined a group practice and last year was able to relaunch my private practice again. I have also had some significant health challenges- in 2018 I had an ischemic stroke which caused me to lose all functioning of my right hand. With months of therapy and treatment I was able to regain most of the functioning back, but there was a lot of fear that it would happen again. It was almost a year until we discovered the root cause- I have a rare form of blood cancer called Essential Thrombocythemia and with lifelong treatment I am able to hopefully prevent any further reoccurrence and maintain my quality of life. I still have some challenges particularly with my right hand but it is also a reminder of the importance of health and balance and to prioritize my own self care and manage my stress and I take that very seriously.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I have over 30 years of experience in the field and a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from The Ohio State University. I specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, Christian counseling, couples therapy, and ADHD.
My philosophy centers on creating a safe and nurturing environment where individuals and couples can explore their feelings, identify strengths, and set personalized goals for growth. I am passionate about neurodiversity and love working with individuals, and couples with ADHD. My favorite challenge is working with someone who never thought of themselves as someone who would “do therapy” but brave enough to take that first step and meet then there. I am know for giving homework of activities between sessions as therapy is an active process- not just talking in a one hour session, so come ready to learn and embrace new tools for improvement. I have also written articles, participated in workshops and have been featured on podcasts, and I love my Beautiful Brains outpatient therapy groups where she leads groups for adult women with ADHD.
At DeJarnette Counseling & Consultation, the focus is on providing tailored counseling services for a range of issues, including adjustment difficulties, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and relationship challenges. Lisa provides trauma informed care, is TEAM-CBT certified and has specialized training in the Gottman Method, The Couples Institute and Prepare/Enrich, enhancing her ability to support individuals and couples in their journey.
Lisa believes that therapy is an essential investment in self-care and self-love, emphasizing that everyone deserves the opportunity to heal and thrive.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many people deserve credit and have poured into me and the success that I have in my business. First and foremost God, who called me and equipped me to the work that I do. Also my parents, my family, especially my husband who has been my biggest cheerleader and supporter and often picks up the slack so that I can do this work. I have had so many role models and mentors in the field and in my life, that I looked up to and wanted to emulate. And even now as I am a lifelong learner and continually trying to learn and fine-tune my craft. I also have a tribe of friends and colleagues that I turned to for help and support, as well as my own personal therapist. This is hard work that we do every day, and that was especially true during the pandemic, when it became even more challenging and I am not sure that we have ever fully recovered. That’s why it’ is so critical to have peers and colleagues and support to turn to and fold that can remind you of your why, your purpose and value. Also my clients they deserve credit- they are the brave ones who show up and take the step of reaching out for help- I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them! I couldn’t possibly name all the people that have gone before me and have poured into me. I also have my faith community that supports me and encourages me and that has been an important part of my journey as well.
Pricing:
- free initial session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dejarnettecounseling.clientsecure.me/
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/lisa-dejarnette-6b4a338b
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/IRaJ56iAdl
