Licensed to practice in New Jersey and accepts 20 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Anxiety, Depression and 4 more.

Leslie Mader

(she/her)

LCSW, 20 years of experience
No reviews yet

New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

About me

As a trauma-informed social worker with more than 20 years of experience, I help adults navigate challenges related to depression, anxiety, and substance use. I understand that reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, and I strive to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard and understood. My approach is collaborative and client-centered. I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), hypnotherapy, and motivational interviewing to help you better understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we will explore patterns that may be keeping you stuck while building practical tools to support meaningful change. I believe lasting growth happens when clients feel empowered and supported throughout the process. My goal is to help you gain insight, strengthen motivation, improve emotional regulation, and develop effective coping skills that support greater stability and well-being. Whether you are facing long-standing challenges or working toward a specific goal, I will meet you where you are and help you move forward at a pace that feels right for you.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

During our first session, my primary focus is on creating a comfortable and supportive environment where you can begin sharing your story at your own pace. I will take time to learn about your current concerns, personal history, strengths, and goals while ensuring you feel heard and respected throughout the process. We will explore the challenges that brought you to therapy, discuss any symptoms or difficulties you may be experiencing, and begin identifying patterns that may be affecting your daily life. Together, we will establish initial goals and discuss what you hope to gain from therapy. I may also introduce basic coping or grounding strategies that can provide immediate support. By the end of our first session, you will have a clearer understanding of how we can work together and what future sessions may look like.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of my greatest strengths is my ability to connect with clients in a genuine, grounded, and nonjudgmental way. My years of clinical experience have taught me the importance of building trust and creating a therapeutic relationship where clients feel safe to be themselves. I meet clients where they are, whether they feel ready for change or are still exploring their options. By combining CBT, hypnotherapy, and motivational interviewing, I tailor treatment to each person's unique needs and goals. I focus on helping clients build insight, strengthen motivation, and develop practical skills that support lasting growth and positive change.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I am a dedicated social worker with a client centered, trauma-informed approach, integrating CBT, hypnotherapy, and motviational interviewing to support adults in creating meaningful and sustainable change. I am best suited to work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and substance use challenges who may feel stuck in unhelpful patterns but are open-fully or ambivalently-to explore change. I help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while also accessing deeper patterns that influence functioning. Through a collaborative and supportive process, I focus on building insight, strenghtening motivation, and developing practical coping strategies that support stability, empowerment, and improved overal well being.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Anger Management

Self Esteem

Identifies as

Serves ages

Licensed in

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

My work incorporates CBT to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I guide clients in recognizing patterns that may be keeping them stuck and support them in building practical tools to create meaningful challenges.

Hypnotherapy

I integrate hypnotherapy into my work to help clients access deeper patterns of thought and behavior that may not be fully conscious. I guide clients into a relaxed, focused state where they can explore underlying beliefs and develop more adaptive responses to support meaningul change.

Motivational Interviewing

I use motivaional interviewing to meet clients where they are and support them in finding their own reasons for change. Through open-ended questions and reflective listening, I help clients build confidence and move forward at their own pace.

Trauma Informed Care

I focus on creating a safe, supportive space while helping clients build insight, access inner resources, and develop practical, sustainable tools for change.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.