Hello and warm welcome to you! I'm Leila and I believe that people are naturally resilient with the right support. My approach to therapy is deeply rooted in the belief that the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist is at the heart of the healing process. This is why I work from a Humanistic framework, which is based in the belief that providing unconditional positive regard and empathy to clients cultivates a truly safe environment for them to look deeply within themselves and rediscover their potential and self-empowerment. I also believe that humor is vital to the human experience, and always welcome and encourage this within my sessions. I provide trauma-informed therapy with a focus in childhood attachment wounds, using a compassionate, client-centered approach; specializing in EMDR, chronic depression, anxiety, life-changes, stress, self-esteem issues, and inner-child/shadow work; utilizing somatic and eclectic methods. My clients walk away from therapy with me feeling a transformed sense of inner peace and self-worth, a regaining of control over their lives and decisions, and the empowerment to awaken their full potential. I strongly believe in making therapy as enjoyable as possible, and hold true to the statement of "come as you are." I have a laid-back, down-to-earth style and want my clients to feel seen, valued, and appreciated for sharing their journey with me.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session together, we will discuss what brings you to therapy. I'd love to hear about if you're a seasoned pro, or perhaps a first-timer, and what you've enjoyed previously about the therapeutic experience, or hope to gain from it this time around (as well as anything you haven't liked so much in the past). We will chat and get to know each other-- as building rapport is essential to the therapeutic experience. We will discuss your goals and how you'd like to get there, as well as anything else you'd like for me to know--perhaps such as accommodations, or any other ideas that you'd like to discuss. I'll give you some background information about me and how I work, and we will go over my practice policies and all the boring consent stuff, then I will give you an opportunity to ask me any questions. Aside from that, we will be ready to start the therapeutic journey together!

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

What makes me unique as a therapist: is that I understand what it is like to be a client. I want therapy to be something that you want to show up to every week, and I will do my best to make the experience one that you feel welcomed and valued in, especially when you may not feel that way in other areas of your life. I have worked with a wide variety of people over the years, and I am also an immigrant from the U.K., which has broadened my perspective to lots of different things that I bring to the therapy experience. I have lots of different skills and modalities that I bring to the table for you to throw in your tool box, and I am always looking for new out-of-the-box methods to share with my clients. I am passionate about using real-world, useful, and practical skills to target the issues that you come to therapy with, and take pride in finding new ways to tackle issues that isn't just the therapy 'norm.'

About Leila Alton