Inessa Leshchinski
Hello and welcome. My name is Inessa -- I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 4 years of experience serving clients in private practice-type settings throughout the Sacramento area. Over these years, I have accumulated a passion for working with Clients looking to address challenges around their relationships (couples therapy), as well as neurodivergence and perinatal issues. I’m not a sit-back-and-nod type of therapist -- I love to collaborate with my clients to meet their goals and see them move past beliefs and/or patterns that have haunted them for many years. That being said, I show up as a grounded and collaborative therapist with an experiential approach. Outside of therapy, I am a wife, new(ish) mom, sister/daughter, musician, crafter, ADHD-er, and the occasional "world traveler". I was born and raised in Sacramento to Slavic immigrant parents. I am fluent in Russian and Ukrainian, and also provided therapy services in those languages.
First session
The first session tends to be more conversation based. I want to get a real sense of who you are what your current challenges are as well as understand what brought you here. I ask questions as things come up naturally, not from a prepared list. We will talk about your goals and what your barriers are to reaching them, as well as what expectations you have from me and therapy. Towards the end of the intake session I make space to address any admin type-questions that make have come up during the completion of the intake paperwork, or our first session together. At the end of session, my goal is to have you feeling lighter, hopeful and knowing that you have someone on your side for the work ahead.
Strengths
Having been a therapist I am convinced that insight alone is not enough. Sure, mindfulness and awareness goes a long way. However, most of our maladaptive patterns and negative beliefs need to be addressed at the emotional level (because they appeared through early emotional wiring) in order to see real and meaningful change. I combine parts-work as well as other evidence-based approaches like DBT to help my Clients move past their negative beliefs and patterns that hold them back from living authentically.
Ideal clients
Most of my Clients come to me as they are navigating a major life transition. I have seen many refugee Clients looking to heal from the trauma of war and rebuild their lives in a new country. Most times, they don't know where to begin. That is where I help break down what is important to them and their values. I have sat with adults diagnosed with ADHD for the first time. For some, the diagnosis is a relief for others it is seemingly a death sentence. Either way, it is a new identity that often needs to be accepted, processed and learned. Regardless of the issue, I aim to provide a space where their is hope and an understanding that they are not alone.
Treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Implementing DBT skills (these are practical tools you take with you) to help manage or improve negative behaviors and or thought patterns.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Engaging in interventions during session to help aid in understanding self and to gain insight into behaviors to seek change. This is where we address the emotions and the wiring behind them.
Gottman method
While working with couples, I will introduce interventions that have been well researched by the Gottman Institute that are aimed to increase intimacy, communication effectiveness, connection and relationship satisfaction.
Location
Virtual sessions