Root Cause Counseling

Hi, I’m Leslie, an LMHC based in Washington State. I am passionate about creating an environment that is centered on connection and authenticity — I believe healing happens when we show up as our true selves. I take a genuine, kind, yet direct approach, believing that honesty and clear communication are key to building trust and fostering growth.

I grew up in South Mississippi with an evangelical Christian background, and my personal experiences with religious identity have deeply shaped my professional focus. I understand the complexities of religious trauma and spiritual deconstruction, and I specialize in helping individuals navigate the pain of leaving a faith tradition or reconciling past religious experiences. Whether you're processing feelings of loss, confusion, or rediscovering your sense of self, I’m here to support you with understanding and empathy.

I deeply value the human connection that comes from therapy, and I’m committed to walking alongside you in your journey toward healing, growth, and wholeness. If you're seeking a space to explore your experiences and find lasting change, I’d be honored to work with you.

Who I Work With

I work with adolescents (16+) and young adults, including college students, who are navigating life’s complexities and seeking deeper understanding and growth. My clients often come to therapy seeking support around:

• Religious Trauma & Spiritual Deconstruction: I specialize in helping individuals who are processing religious trauma, particularly from evangelical Christian backgrounds, and those who are navigating their spiritual deconstruction.

• Identity & Self-Discovery: I help individuals rediscover their authentic selves and explore how their beliefs, values, and experiences shape who they are.

• Emotional Struggles: Whether it's anxiety, depression, or difficult emotions, I assist clients in uncovering the root causes of their distress and working through them in a compassionate and transformative way.

• Neurodiversity: As someone who is neurodiverse, I have a deep understanding of the unique ways in which our brains can process information and emotions. I embrace neurodiversity and work with individuals to create a space where their experiences are validated and understood. I’m here to support those who may feel different, and help you navigate the world in a way that honors your strengths and challenges.

If you’re looking for a warm, relational, and humanistic therapist to walk with you through life’s challenges, I’m here to help. Let’s uncover the root causes together and build a foundation for long-lasting change.

Treatment Approach

I use a variety of evidence-based approaches to help you uncover the root causes of your struggles and create lasting change. My goal is to tailor our work together to your unique needs, using modalities that best support your healing and growth. Some of the key approaches I draw from include:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT focuses on helping you accept difficult emotions, thoughts, and experiences, while also committing to actions that align with your values. This therapy empowers you to live more authentically, even in the face of challenges.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a practical approach that helps you identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. By reshaping thought patterns, you can create healthier, more positive ways of responding to life's challenges.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is designed to help you manage intense emotions, develop mindfulness, and build stronger interpersonal relationships. It's especially helpful for people struggling with emotional dysregulation or self-destructive behaviors.

• Internal Family Systems (IFS): IFS is a transformative approach that views the mind as made up of different “parts,” each with its own feelings and beliefs. By understanding and healing these parts, you can achieve greater inner harmony and self-acceptance.

These modalities, when combined with a strong therapeutic relationship, can create lasting change that goes beyond surface-level solutions.

Professional Background

Here are some of the key areas where I have received focused education and experience:

• ACT for Anxiety and Depression: I have completed specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for treating anxiety and depression. This evidence-based approach helps clients accept difficult emotions and thoughts while aligning their actions with personal values, creating a foundation for lasting change.

• Addiction Medicine: With a background in working at an addiction treatment center, I have received extensive training in addiction medicine. This experience has deepened my understanding of the complexities of addiction and how it intersects with mental health, allowing me to offer compassionate and effective care for individuals facing challenges related to addiction.

• ADHD Diagnosis & Treatment: I have received training in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, which enables me to provide targeted strategies for the neurodiverse population. This training helps me work with individuals to develop coping mechanisms and practical tools to navigate daily life with ADHD.

These trainings, combined with my personal and professional experiences, allow me to provide a well-rounded, empathetic, and effective approach to therapy.