Lawrence Lyons

ABOUT THE DOCTOR

Lawrence Lyons, Ph.D., Psy.D.
Psychologist

Dr. Lyons is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of experience in clinical, forensic, and medical-legal psychology. He was licensed at the age of 27, making him one of the youngest individuals to obtain a clinical psychology license in the State of California.

Dr. Lyons completed his B.A. degree at St. John’s University in New York in just two and a half years. In 1979, he relocated to San Diego to pursue his dream of a career in surfing. Those plans changed when, at the age of 20, he was accepted into the doctoral program at Alliant University as one of its youngest graduate students. He completed the rigorous Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and earned his doctorate at the age of 25.

Following graduation, Dr. Lyons was accepted into the U.S. Navy and commissioned as a full Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1983. He completed his post-doctoral internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he had the opportunity to work closely with a wide range of physicians and surgeons. During one of his clinical rotations, he conducted numerous pre-surgical psychological evaluations and performed a high volume of neuropsychological assessments involving servicemen who had sustained closed-head injuries.

Dr. Lyons subsequently spent two years at the Naval Recruiting Station in San Diego, where he evaluated enlisted personnel for specialized service positions. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1986 and entered private practice, focusing on forensic and medical-legal evaluations. Over the following 12 years, he provided psychological treatment services to injured workers and individuals suffering from chronic pain.

In 2003, Dr. Lyons was selected as one of only two psychologists to work with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and its S.W.A.T. team. In that role, he consulted with hostage negotiators during high-intensity and public crisis situations. At the same time, his private practice continued to focus heavily on psychological evaluations, including pre-employment psychological testing for police officers and fire department candidates.

Dr. Lyons also served as a psychological consultant to several major Las Vegas organizations. At The Venetian, he provided psychological services related to its security operations, while at the MGM Grand, he served as a psychological consultant to the Human Resources Department.

Personal Understanding of Chronic Pain

Dr. Lyons brings a unique perspective to his work with chronic pain patients because of his own personal experience with significant orthopedic and chronic pain conditions.
In September 2019, he underwent a total left hip replacement to address chronic osteoarthritis associated with his long-term jujitsu practice. Following surgery, he elected to minimize his use of pain medication and was able to return to seeing patients within 72 hours of the procedure.

He has also experienced chronic lumbar spine pain associated with three herniated discs, including a 4.5 mm disc herniation at L4-L5. In addition, he has severe arthritis in his right shoulder, as documented by MRI, which has caused significant nerve pain.

Through his own experience and the therapeutic modalities he utilizes, Dr. Lyons has developed a practical understanding of the physical and psychological challenges associated with chronic pain. He strongly advocates for appropriate physical conditioning, rehabilitation, and active participation in recovery as important components of managing chronic pain and improving function.

This combination of extensive clinical experience and personal experience with chronic pain allows Dr. Lyons to connect with his patients on a unique level. He understands the challenges they face and can serve not only as a clinician, but also as a knowledgeable and motivating advocate for rehabilitation, recovery, and a return to productive daily life.