Lian Zeitz · Founder
Practitioner, chaplain, youth development and mental health expert, and philanthropic strategist. Based between Mexico City and Washington D.C., serving people globally.
About
I have lived through this in my own family, and
Lived experience
My path into this work emerged through experiences within my own family and alongside friends navigating mental health challenges, treatment systems, and the long process of finding a way back. Those experiences shaped my conviction that healing is relational, contextual, and rarely done alone.
Chaplaincy & therapeutic navigation
Over the years, my work has expanded through chaplaincy in adolescent psychiatric settings, accompaniment for families navigating education placement and treatment, and a Master of Divinity at Naropa University — where contemplative practice meets clinical formation. I learned to stay close, to listen for what wants to emerge, and to help families and their children move forward together.
Systems & field work
Alongside one-to-one family work, I have led youth mental health and systems change initiatives around the world — including a multi-year youth peer support project with Stanford, the guided investment of a $200M global portfolio, and capacity-building efforts for youth mental health programs across 10 countries. Today, Love Praxis brings these experiences together in the service of families navigating difficult moments with care, clarity, and hope.
Selected milestones
- 2024The Role of The Sacred in Systems Change.
- 2023Advisor on $200M global youth mental health portfolio at Prospira Global.
- 2023Co-led Stanford youth peer-support project centering BIPOC and queer young people.
- 2022Co-author, Global Priorities for Climate Change and Mental Health (Lancet Planetary Health).
- 2021Co-led mental-health-friendly cities work across 22 countries.
- 2019Master of Divinity, Naropa University. Clinical chaplaincy in adolescent mental health.
Selected publications
How Embodiment Transforms Systems Change
Article
How Islands of Coherence in a Sea of Chaos Changes Social Change
Article
Article
Article
Beyond Gloom and Doom: Teaching Climate Change to Foster Empowerment
Article
Peer-reviewed
Cities & Health
The Family Throughout the Therapeutic Wilderness Process: Our Stories
Chapter
Voices of NEXUS — Youth Mental Health: Young Minds Need Unconventional Support
Article
An Inquiry into Involving Young People in Health Research
Article
Project Doing Good: Transforming Global Mental Health Policy and Practice
Article
The Hope Matrix: Finding Hope on the Spiritual Path of Healing
Podcast
Selected speaking
Hearth Summit
Slovenia · June 2025
Private Funder Gathering on Creativity
New York · Dec 2024
5 Words Shaping Social Change — Funder Convening
New York · June 2024
Glasswing International Mental Health Catalyst Summit
May 2024
Glasswing International Mental Health Catalyst Summit
May 2023
Psychological Association of the Philippines Annual Conference — Plenary
April 2023
Global Mental Health: Agents of Change
Generation Mental Health · Nov 2021
Grand Challenges Annual Meeting
Gates Foundation · Oct 2021
Time to Rise
Healing Together · July 2021
The Promise of Adolescence — FAST Funders Convening
Los Angeles · Nov 2019
IAYMH Conference
Queensland, Australia · Oct 2019
Caring for the Caregiver Convening
Geneva · Oct 2019
National Mental Health Youth Convergence
Washington D.C. · Aug 2019
Mental Health America Annual Conference
Washington D.C. · June 2019
American Psychiatric Association 172nd Annual Meeting
San Francisco · May 2019