Throughout the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of women, men and couples, trained countless therapists across the country on how to work with couples, given speeches, taught tele-classes and advised leaders. I’m passionate about doing my part to help women, men, leaders and therapists to step up and step into the world in a whole new way. I’m particularly passionate about working with women and couples. Why?
Working With Women
I’ve watched women settle for less than they deserve for most of my life. I watched family members, friends, colleagues, clients and strangers settle for situations I wouldn’t want for my worst enemy. I watched women cower to rage, complain about rage, beg for the rage to stop and on and on. What I seldom saw was women putting an end to that rage. I’ve watched women plead, beg, yell, scream and cry to others in an attempt to get more help with the kids, the house, their sanity. Seldom do I witness women calmly and effectively stop over-doing and allowing others to feel the effect of this decision. I’ve watched many a woman sleep with a man in an effort to “get” him, only to later be heartbroken when she realized she is only one of many he is sleeping with. Far too many women are not willing to risk losing a man they never had by asking for exclusivity. I’ve watched women stay in jobs with abusive bosses, “mean girl” environments and toxic teams because they felt they had no other options. But there are seldom no other options.
I’m tired of watching women settle. I hated watching it when I was a child and I hate it now that I’m a grownup. My work is about — I’m about — helping women to step into the world in a new way…as an equal, deserving of great things and, most certainly, great relationships. The cost of settling for anything less is far too high.
Working with Couples
I’m also passionate about working with couples to create a relationship that feels truly good to come home to. I grew up in an environment with two parents in a bad relationship and I wished then that someone had helped them create a great relationship from which my siblings and I could learn. Although this wish is too late for me, it’s not too late for other families. Far too many couples are actively destructive with one another, silently co-existing with one another or coldly tuning one another out.
Studies show that people in happy marriages outlive those in unhappy ones. In contrast, people in chronically unhappy marriages experience serious health issues such as depression, heart disease and even cancer. Bad relationships are killing us…and detrimentally impacting our children. I’m tired of the ripple effect of bad marriages and am pulled to teaching couples how to nurture their relationships, their children and themselves, in such a way that they cultivate an environment that feels good to come home to.
The Traditional Bio
LISA MERLO-BOOTH, M. A. Relationship Expert & Speaker
Lisa is a straight-talking and highly effective relationship expert, speaker and blogger. She has over twenty years of experience in the field of therapy and relationship coaching and a thriving private practice with a client base of individuals and couples spanning the United States and Europe. Lisa is widely known for her straight talk on women, and for her emphasis on teaching women to stop responding in the extremes (silencing or exploding) and, instead, to affect change in a way that is grounded, respectful and strong. This highly effective approach to communication is about speaking from a Grounded Powerful Strength (GPS) rather than the extremes of meekness or aggression.
As a sought-after speaker, Lisa brings her practical advice in keynote speeches to audiences across the country. Lisa’s popular blog “Straight Talk 4 Women” empowers readers to effectively use their voice, to confidently step into the world as equals and to find their GPS to help ground them in their journey out of the day-to-day stresses of poor relationships, harsh work environments and unhealthy friendships.
Lisa earned her Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Pepperdine University in 1991 and is a Graduate of Coach University.
She was Director of Professional Training for Terrence Real’s Relational Life Institute for over ten years and has trained innumerable therapists to work with couples. She continues to train therapists in couples work, specializing in difficult clients. Lisa is known for her lasered teaching and non-judgmental ability to guide therapists through the difficult terrain of couples work.