Lisa Costas

Lisa Costas is an Associate Professor and core faculty member at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP), where she has served for 11 years. She previously held roles as a visiting assistant professor at the University of South Florida (USF) and adjunct instructor in psychology programs across Tampa-area institutions. Her primary affiliation is with FSPP, though no specific university or department beyond that is explicitly stated in the text.

Dr. Costas holds a doctoral degree in counseling psychology and a master’s in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas (UNT). She specializes in couples and family therapy and has a minor in school psychology. Her educational background emphasizes integrative theoretical approaches including CBT, systems theory, person-centered, solution-focused, and psycho-dynamic methods.

Her research interests focus on cultural competence in psychology, particularly addressing Latinx communities' mental health needs. She advocates for education initiatives and services supporting underserved populations, with expertise in group therapy, diversity issues, and brief therapy. She has extensive clinical experience working with children, adolescents, families, and Spanish-speaking Latinx populations, alongside risk assessment and career counseling roles.

Dr. Costas has dedicated over 13 years to the Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council and founded a mentoring program for Latina students through the Tampa Hispanic Women’s Association. She actively participates in APA divisions and the National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA), presenting on Latinx psychology and diversity topics. Her professional narrative highlights clinical supervision, internship facilitation (APA-accredited), and leadership in multicultural competency development.