Dr. Lisa Torres

Foster meaningful student engagement that supports the development of clinical and academic competencies aligned with COAMFTE standards.

Provide timely, constructive, and strengths-based feedback to support student growth and professional development.

Clearly communicate expectations related to academic performance, clinical skills, and professional conduct.

Actively participate in course discussions and/or discussion boards to model critical thinking and clinical application.

Respond to student questions and grade assignments within established university timelines to support student success.

Demonstrate a strong commitment to student-centered learning, cultural responsiveness, and the development of ethical, competent clinicians.

Engage in continuous improvement related to curriculum, instruction, and faculty development in alignment with programmatic goals and accreditation standards.

Collaborate with academic, clinical, and student services departments to enhance the overall student experience within the MFT program.

Maintain professional and ethical standards in accordance with AAMFT, CAMFT, and university expectations.

Adhere to all National University policies and procedures and remain current with updates as part of faculty responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements:

• Led early detection initiatives for at-risk patients, mitigating psychological and physical deterioration while aligning with organizational health goals.
• Developed and implemented service plans with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring holistic, integrated care for clients and families across office, community, and school settings.
• Created the protocol for the Healthy Steps Program across several agency sites, standardizing care delivery and improving program outcomes.
• Supervised new BH providers, conducted training, and mentored staff, driving continuous improvement in service delivery and team productivity.
• Coordinated behavioral health services integration with other agency programs, ensuring compliance with funding and regulatory requirements.
• Managed grant coordination and supported financial sustainability by monitoring budgets and ensuring adherence to funding goals.
• Strengthened program resources, communication strategies, and service impact in the behavioral health field, fostering professional relationships to support organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements:

• Provided strategic leadership to district teams, advising on student diagnoses, treatment plans, and intervention needs, aligning with behavioral health goals.
• Developed and implemented mental health programming to support an integrated care model across school sites, ensuring high-quality services.
• Supervised and mentored student therapists and mental health associates, promoting professional development and team productivity.
• Ensured compliance with legal and organizational standards through accurate clinical documentation and adherence to funding requirements.
• Collected and analyzed mental health data to optimize district-wide services and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Contributed to the expansion and integration of mental health services within the district, enhancing service delivery and meeting community needs.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements:

• Led the development and coordination of individualized treatment plans for members with chronic or acute mental illness, ensuring comprehensive care.
• Provided psychotherapy across individual, couples, family, and group modalities to promote mental health improvement.
• Served as a leadership resource within the department, providing training and consultation to other therapists on best practices and treatment strategies.
• Worked closely with addiction medicine to manage co-occurring disorders, ensuring integrated and holistic treatment.
• Collaborated and coordinated with patients accessing higher levels of care, such as Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and residential programs, to ensure continuity of care.
• Educated patients and families on therapeutic and medication adherence, improving treatment outcomes.
• Collaborated with physicians to assess the necessity of psychotropic medications, enhancing integrative care.
• Maintained detailed, confidential records and provided timely reports to support ongoing treatment planning.
• Volunteered as the Gender Case Manager, supporting youth and families in understanding and accessing gender-affirming medical treatments.
• Ran the first psycho-educational group for parents and/or caregivers on gender identity and how to be gender-affirming, promoting awareness and support for families.

• Key Responsibilities & Achievements:
• Led clinical supervision for staff in accordance with BBS guidelines, fostering professional growth, adherence to best practices, and ensuring quality service delivery.
• Developed and implemented evidence-based initiatives to improve program outcomes, positively impacting community mental health and well-being.
• Collaborated with district and program teams to set long-term goals, monitor performance, and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Provided crisis intervention across districts, delivering timely support and resources to at-risk youth in need of immediate care.
• Managed program statistics, tracked financial performance, and ensured the program remained within budgetary constraints, contributing to fiscal accountability.
• Generated reports for community stakeholders to inform service delivery improvements and track program effectiveness.

We all hold identities that have been oppressed. We want to support you in breaking free from the ways that you limit yourself or make yourself small. We want to support our clients to live, thrive, and create. We want to support you by:

Disrupting thinking patterns and behaviors that no longer serve you

Disrupting barriers to mental health services

Disrupting non-collaborative therapy approaches

Augmenting resilience and uplifting collaboration within communities

Quality mental health information dissemination with a blended research and lived experience lens

Provide full cycle of psychotherapy utilzing an integrated approach of evidence-based practices

Key Responsibilities & Achievements:

• Led the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Systems of Care (SOC) programs, managing a multidisciplinary team of mental health therapists, family specialists, and family partners, ensuring compliance with state and county regulations.
• Developed and executed individualized treatment plans, enhancing client care and fostering family engagement in the therapeutic process.
• Managed program budgets, coordinated resources, and ensured the department met the requirements of county contracts while fulfilling the fiscal needs of the agency.
• Delivered BBS-approved clinical supervision to mental health associates, contributing to the development of future mental health professionals.
• Promoted evidence-based practices within the team, improving program quality and client outcomes.
• Helped develop protocols for coordinating care between psychiatric hospitals, crisis stabilization units, and mobile crisis programs, ensuring seamless transitions for clients in crisis.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements:

• Provided strategic leadership and management of the outpatient mental health program, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Directed program staff, including licensed and associate therapists, student therapists, in the development and implementation of individualized treatment plans, improving service delivery and enhancing patient satisfaction.
• Coordinated integration efforts between outpatient mental health services and other programs to ensure a holistic, integrated care model.
• Managed program budgets, ensuring financial sustainability while meeting program objectives and aligning with fiscal targets.
• Supervised and supported a diverse team, including licensed and associate therapists, student therapists, family specialists, and family partners, providing leadership, training, and professional development to ensure high-quality documentation and adherence to care standards.
• Ensured compliance with regulations, licensing, and funding requirements, maintaining program integrity and meeting legal obligations.
• Actively participated in leadership meetings, contributing to strategic planning and organizational development.
• Supported the expansion of the department by helping to write and secure the RFP for the intensive outpatient contract.