About Dr. Faris...
As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Faris has extensive training and experience in helping children, adolescents and adults with a variety of issues. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, panic and stress, 
depression and mood disorders, anger-management and health-related issues (chronic illness, chronic pain, grief/loss). She works with persons at all stages of weight loss surgery, from pre-contemplation to living with gastric alterations. She conducts psychological testing and gives seminars and trainings on a variety of issues related to health and well-being. Dr. Faris is also a Professional Life Coach. She helps people to identify and obtain their life goals, and helps them to create excitement and passion about life.
Dr. Faris is often described by her patients as "sweet yet firm." She can also be "quite funny" as one patient stated. She applies humor to the process and truly believes the research that links well-being with laughter. At the same time, she understands the importance of the process and takes each and every client's needs seriously. Dr. Faris provides a safe and comfortable environment where the client is not ever judged. It is a collaborative environment where the client is able to let down defenses and barriers, so as to identify the true issue beneath the current symptoms that brought them in for treatment. Dr. Faris employs an eclectic approach to her treatment planning and initial assessment, recognizing that each person is unique and has his/her own issues and needs. Dr. Faris conducts therapy from a Cognitive/Behavioral standpoint, and although she employs a brief therapy model, she recognizes that some issues require more long-term treatment.
Dr. Faris first became interested in psychology while attending San Diego State University for her undergraduate education. Just prior to receiving her bachelor's degree in Journalism and Advertising, she realized that her true interest was not in deadlines or reporting, but in human behavior. So, after completing her Journalism degree she then decided to get her degree in Psychology. After completion of her bachelor's degrees, she went on to receive her Master of Science Degree in Psychology from Western Washington University, obtaining a 3.9 GPA. From there, she chose to attend California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego, where she obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Medicine (3.9 GPA).
Dr. Faris' primary research is as follows:
Faris, L.M. (2000). The Role of Hostility and Anger Expression in Cardiovascular Reactivity to and Recovery from a Laboratory Mental Stressor in Normotensive Black and White Males with a Parental History of Hypertension. A doctoral dissertation presented to the faculty of the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego.
Faris, L.M. (1994). Psychophysiological Effects of Hardiness and Hostility on Stress and Illness. A master's thesis presented to the faculty of Western Washington University.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Dr. Faris' work history is extensive. She has worked in private practice since 2004. Prior to that time, she conducted therapeutic services in a number of different venues. A brief outline to understand the extensiveness of her training and expertise in a multitude of areas is as follows:
**Federal Medical Center, Carswell. Federal prison for female inmates. For four years, Dr. Faris served as the only Clinical Health Psychologist in the United States who worked with medically ill female inmates in the Federal Prison System.
**Texas Department of Corrections. Program for the Aggressive Mentally Ill Offender (PAMIO). Dr. Faris worked with the most violent and psychologically ill male offenders in the State of Texas.
**The Psychological Corporation. Psychological Test Practitioner. Dr. Faris conducted extensive testing to help create norms for the WISC-III and WIAT-II Intelligence and Achievement Tests.
**Harmonium. A Suicide Hotline for Teens. Dr. Faris supervised phone conversations with persons in acute distress. She offered her expertise and guidance to the counselors who were there to direct the caller to safety.
**The Center, San Diego. Dr. Faris worked with patients with HIV/AIDS and their families. While conducting individual, family, couples and group counseling (primarily to the gay/lesbian population affected by the AIDS/HIV epidemic), grief and loss was a major focus during her year at The Center.
**Children's Hospital Trauma Research Center. Dr. Faris was responsible for the interviewing of children who had been sexually abused.
**Charter Hospital. In-Patient and Out-Patient Units. Dr. Faris conducted individual, group and family therapy for persons who were struggling with psychological problems.
**Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Dr. Faris served as an Editorial Assistant, reviewing potential research articles and facilitating their publication into the journal.
**Dallas County MHMR. Therapy was conducted with persons with mild to moderate developmental delays.
**Child and Adolescent Intensive Services. Dr. Faris worked on the in-patient and out-patient units of a children's psychiatric hospital. Individual, group, family and play therapies were conducted.
**Baylor University Medical Center Chronic Pain Clinic. Dr. Faris conducted biofeedback and therapy specifically with persons struggling with chronic pain and the depression often associated with such a condition.
**Western Washington University. Counseling Center. Conducted biofeedback with students experiencing stress-related conditions.
**Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic. Dr. Faris conducted group therapy, art therapy, and social skill training with chronically mentally ill clients.
**House of Mirrors, Drug Treatment Facility. Obtained over 4,000 hours of direct-care services with persons overcoming drug and alcohol addictions.
HONORS:
Psi Chi Psychololgy National Honor Society
Golden Key National Honor Society
Mortar Board National Honor Society
Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism National Honor Society
Alpha Gamma Sigma National Honor Society
AWARDS:
MERIT Council Multicultural Scholarship
CSPP Outstanding Performance Scholarship (1997 & 1998)
WWU Outstanding Tuition Waiver
Copley Foundation Scholarship
Lancaster-West Rotary Club Scholarship
Alpha Gamma Sigma Scholarship
Dr. Faris is passionate about the work that she does, and truly cares about the well-being of her patients. She lives in North Texas with her husband and three small children. She keeps active with her kids' sporting events, school events and play dates. She enjoys family time, friend time, alone time, painting, photography, writing, scrapbooking, traveling and having her toes in the sand at least twice a year!