Professional Endorsements
Reflections from colleagues and collaborators on the presence, philosophy, and work behind Earthrise Counseling.
Nick Searra
Executive Director, Interstellar Foundation
“Before the Interstellar Foundation was an organization, it was an idea and a handful of conversations. Lisa Marie was member number one. Not honorary, not retrospective, the first person to say yes. What she did next is the part I do not think she gives herself enough credit for. She introduced me to people. Then those people introduced me to people. The Foundation that exists today, with members ranging from Richard Dawkins and Avi Loeb to Scott Kelly and Frank White, and partnerships with UNESCO, NASA, National Geographic and the Internet Archive, grew out of a network she seeded before any of it looked credible.
She did that because it is what she does. She holds a room. She listens to what a person is actually saying rather than what they are saying out loud. She connects people who should know each other and then quietly steps out of the frame. Watching her work with the Foundation, I saw the same instinct that shows up in her counselling and in her art. Attention as a form of care, and awe treated as something serious rather than something decorative.
If you are looking for someone to sit with you while you make sense of something large, you would be lucky to find her.”
— Nick Searra
Executive Director, Interstellar Foundation
InterstellarFoundation.com
Zoe Helene
Founder, Cosmic Sister; Originator of Psychedelic Feminism
“I highly recommend Lisa Marie Persaud of Earthrise Counseling for her exceptional work in mental health and well-being. She is a brilliant, courageous, creative, and profoundly kind therapist who is dedicated to ethical practices. Lisa Marie’s ability to hold a safe, compassionate space for people navigating deep psychological healing and visionary states of consciousness is exceptional.
She has a rare and versatile gift for supporting people as they explore and integrate psychedelic, visionary, and other non-ordinary states of consciousness, including experiences understood as sacred, meaningful, or transformative.
I find Lisa Marie’s passion for connecting psychedelic exploration and space travel to be particularly inspiring. It is a privilege to endorse Lisa Marie Persaud’s work; she is truly a credit to the field.”
— Zoe Helene
Founder of Cosmic Sister
Originator of Psychedelic Feminism
ZoeHelene.com
Neal Taylor
Safety and Mission Assurance Aerospace Engineer, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
“Lisa Marie’s passion for the human–cosmic connection is one of the qualities that makes her work so distinctive. She brings compassion, openness, and a deeply thoughtful presence to the way she engages with others—without judgment or expectation.
Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the sincerity of her commitment to helping people explore meaning, connection, and the larger questions of the human experience. Her work reflects a genuine belief that healing involves not only understanding ourselves more deeply, but also recognizing our relationship to one another and to the wider cosmos.
Lisa Marie brings heart, curiosity, and a sense of wonder to everything she does, and those qualities are beautifully reflected in the vision behind Earthrise Counseling.”
— Neal Taylor
Safety and Mission Assurance Aerospace Engineer
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Joshua White
Executive Director, Fireside Project
“Lisa Marie brings a rare combination of heart, depth, and insight to her work. She listens with her full attention and somehow always knows exactly what needs to be said. Moment after moment, she makes you feel truly seen and understood, in a way that allows you to keep opening up and confront the parts of yourself that long to be witnessed and loved.”
— Joshua White
Executive Director, Fireside Project
FiresideProject.org
Dr. James Leathem, DO
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist; Co-Founder, Advanced Wellness and Pain
“Lisa has a warmth and presence that puts people at ease from the start. She has a way of listening that makes you feel truly seen and heard, without the feeling of being rushed, analyzed, or judged, but met with real curiosity, authenticity and care.
She creates a therapeutic space where it feels safe to be honest about the parts of yourself that may be difficult to put into words. In her presence, there is a genuine sense of openness and acceptance. You can feel that she is a no-judgment zone and someone who can hold complexity, uncertainty, pain, and growth with steadiness and compassion.
What stands out most to me is the depth of intention she brings to her work. Her vision for Earthrise Counseling reflects a belief that healing is a global collective initiative that starts with the self. We are all connected and examining how we relate to one another, to the natural world, and to the larger meaning of our lives. The application of the Overview Effect is a cornerstone of her philosophy. Lisa brings thoughtfulness, humility, and heart to that vision, and I have no doubt that those who work with her will feel deeply supported.”
— Dr. James Leathem, DO
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
Co-Founder, Advanced Wellness and Pain
AdvancedWellnessAndPain.com
Astro Mindy Howard
Founder, Cosmic Girls
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Lisa Marie through our shared interests in space exploration, the Overview Effect, and the deeper questions around human meaning and our relationship with the planet.
While I haven’t worked directly with Lisa Marie in a professional capacity, I’ve always been struck by her warmth, thoughtfulness, curiosity, and genuine commitment to creating positive change.
Lisa Marie brings a beautiful combination of compassion, openness, and a deep interest in the human experience. Her vision for Earthrise Counseling reflects an important and timely recognition that individual well-being, collective healing, and our relationship with the planet are deeply interconnected.
I’m delighted to see Lisa Marie stepping into this next chapter and wish her every success with Earthrise Counseling.”
— Astro Mindy Howard
Founder, Cosmic Girls
CosmicGirls.org
A Note on Professional Endorsements
The reflections shared on this page were offered by colleagues and collaborators familiar with Lisa Marie’s work, values, professional contributions, or the broader vision of Earthrise Counseling.
Professional titles and organizational affiliations are provided for identification purposes only. These endorsements reflect the individual views of those quoted and do not imply endorsement by their employers, organizations, agencies, or other affiliated entities.
Earthrise Counseling does not solicit or publish client testimonials in order to protect the privacy, dignity, and integrity of the therapeutic relationship.
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