LMHC, 3 years of experience
Hi there! I'm Leah, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida. In addition to my Master's degree and license, I have specialized training in treating trauma, anxiety and depression. I'm passionate about helping women overcome dysfunctional patterns of thought and behavior by safely navigating through past traumas, stepping outside of the people-pleasing pattern, setting boundaries and learning how to truly embrace their authentic selves. Personally, I'm a Mom, a best friend, a middle-child and free spirit. I value personal growth, freedom/independence, exploration, equality, individuality and compassion. When I'm not in the office, I love spending time with my family, traveling (there is no place I wouldn't want to go!), meditating, reading and exploring new foods.
The first session sets the tone for the rest of the therapeutic relationship and typically allows both you and the therapist to gauge if we are a good fit. Since this first session will officially be our first time meeting face-to-face (or via telehealth), I believe it's important to work towards establishing connection, safety and comfort. It is also important to use this first session to discuss your personal history, present concerns and goals so that we can both assess if this is the right fit for you.
I pride myself on being safe yet direct, authentic, understanding, empowering and affirming throughout every session. I describe my therapy style as holistic and individualized to each client's specific needs and goals...we work TOGETHER and at a pace that stretches you while not overwhelming you. I am truly patient and will help ease you into the courage, vulnerability and trust that effective therapy takes.
My ideal client is anyone who already is (or wants to be) self-aware, honest with themselves and ready for change. Most of my clients are working through some sort of trauma (childhood neglect/abuse, sexual trauma, racial trauma, etc.) and can identify their own dysfunctional patterns (relationships, a certain behavior or a stuck mindset) that they are ready to process and change. I love empowering my clients to break cycles!
I've been certified as an EMDRIA-approved EMDR therapist since 2022. In my experience working with trauma, EMDR has been extremely effective in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, phobias and more by reprocessing mental blocks, desensitizing distressing memories and replacing negative thoughts with more positive thoughts.
CBT is an evidence-based, talk therapy approach commonly used to treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self worth, relationship struggles and more. I typically weave CBT all throughout sessions as I give clients the freedom to freely express their thoughts (without judgment) while gently challenging what could be a stuck, dysfunctional, outdated or irrational thought.
Inner child healing is a trauma-informed, Jungian approach deeply rooted in honest exploration, acceptance, self-love and self-compassion. Inner child healing acknowledges the impact that traumatic childhood experiences have on current adult behaviors and focuses on healing childhood trauma by identifying unmet needs and re-parenting ourselves.
I was trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in 2021 and frequently use those skills to help clients explore their thoughts, emotions and behaviors with body awareness, mindfulness meditation and yoga. MBSR can be used together with other therapeutic approaches to significantly lower symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, grief and insomnia as well as overall stress reduction.