OUR tHERAPISTS, rESEARCH ASSISTANT, AND TUTOR

Leslie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and she  is a bilingual speaking (Spanish) Therapist who completed her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences, from California State University  Monterey Bay. Leslie has had the opportunity to work with a variety of populations including children with developmental disabilities, monolingual Spanish's speaking families, teens and young adults with co occurring diagnosis, such as addictions, mood disorders and/or psychosis in a variety of settings which include PHP, IOP, outpatient and community mental health. Her clinical areas of focus include life stress, life transitions, traumatic stress, substance abuse behaviors, anxiety, grief, depression and self-harming behaviors, empowerment and resilience. Aiming to prioritize evidenced-based therapy practices and rely on well researched techniques. Leslie strives to give her client's the most transformative care. She works collaboratively with her clients to become in touch with their own authenticity, resilience, and strengths as she guides them on their journey of healing. 

Choosing the right therapist isn't always easy. It is  an important first step. I hope reading a little about my expertise and how I work can help make that decision a bit easier for you. So, let’s get right to it. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years experience in the mental health field. I have worked in various settings and served diverse populations, including acute in-patient, sub-acute, partial hospitalization, crisis residential, child and adolescent programs and in private practice. My experience and training have allowed me the opportunity to serve clients with both complex and chronic mental health conditions. I work with both individuals and families.

So, let me ask you, do you feel stuck and unhappy with certain aspects of your life? Do you feel like you keep running into dead-ends and alone to find answers, whether it’s about relationships, job, school or knowing how to overcome unwanted negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors?  My work focuses on helping you get unstuck to overcome these life challenges and personal conflicts either with yourself and/or with others. We work together to tackle the root cause of unwanted and painful thoughts, emotions and behaviors, whether it has manifested in anxiety, depression or addiction which has led you to feeling stuck and seemingly with no resolution in sight.

I believe lasting change happens from the inside-out. It’s not enough to just manage behaviors or (mask) symptoms. Change happens when you can listen to and trust your own voice, then you’ll begin to experience the change you want to see and not necessarily what others expect from you. When we work together you can expect a safe and supportive space to explore your thoughts, feelings and choices. It’s truly a space that’s free of judgement and you won’t be told what to do or how to think. I won’t waste your time by trying to invent “good advice”, prescribe special coping skills or give you “homework”. I’m sure you’ve had enough of that from others who meant well but still didn’t help you solve your problems. 

The work is focused on attending closely and keenly on the ebb and flow of your thoughts, emotions and choices which sometimes include exploring the hard and scary thoughts and feelings so it eventually leads you to your own awareness and resolutions, and it happens in your own time and on your own terms. It’s about aligning with your true self. Whether it’s in your relationships, career, or realizing your own worth and happiness, the goal is to get you unstuck and have you regain control again so you can achieve what matters most to you in your-life. 

I look forward to working with you.