Lisa M. Clifford, PhD

Biography

The enduring compassion my parents and grandmother had for helping others influenced my decision to become a psychologist. Through my clinical training on an interdisciplinary team treating children with nutritional disorders, I developed a strong appreciation for the complex relationship between biology and psychosocial factors on the well-being of children with illness and their families. Together, these experiences shaped my commitment to improving the lives of children with chronic diseases and their families.

As a pediatric psychologist, I specialize in pediatric epilepsy and I am the lead psychologist for Cincinnati Children’s Epilepsy Psychosocial Service. I work in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of providers within the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center to promote optimal health in children with epilepsy and their families. We provide children and their families with the best quality of care through evidence-based treatment approaches tailored to each child's unique needs.

In my role on the Epilepsy treatment team, I provide ongoing assessments of adjustment, mood, behavior, learning and quality of life. Treatment commonly focuses on helping families adjust to and cope with chronic illness, manage co-morbid conditions (mood, behaviors, neurocognitive difficulties), and problem-solve barriers to treatment. I also have a specialization in pediatric obesity and provide general mental health services to children struggling with anxiety and depression.

My approach to treatment is to work in collaboration with children and their families to remove obstacles to living their best life. I build off children's and family's strengths and teach them additional tools to help them reach their goals and thrive once treatment is over.

When I’m not helping children and families, I enjoy spending time with my friends, family, and dogs. I also like taking walks, reading, art and listening to live music.