learn to live again
Are you ready to...
-
reduce stress?
-
learn coping skills?
-
improve your sleep?
-
learn better boundaries?
-
enhance your communication skills?
-
increase self-awareness?
-
transform your mindset?
-
calm your central nervous system?
-
work towards a healthier, more fulfilling life?
counseling can help
how can counseling help me?
Short-term, skills-based counseling can help transform your life. Most clients make the most dramatic improvements during their first 8-12 counseling sessions, so we will aim to meet for that duration or less. During this time you will have the opportunity to learn better coping strategies, brain retraining techniques, mindfulness practices, and how to improve your mind-body connection. Learning and implementing these practices will help you alleviate stress and more easily navigate the changes your life brings.
the Mind/Body Connection
Our brains and bodies weren’t built for the constant stress of modern daily life. Our minds get stuck in endless loops of to-do lists and worries. Multi-tasking and constant interruptions cause a steady release of stress hormones. These stress hormones wreak havoc on our body, causing problems with blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, sleep, and the immune system, just to name a few. Short term, skills-based counseling can help you learn how to harness the power of your brain so that you can interrupt and break the stress cycle. Improving your mind/ body connection can help you feel more calm and centered, think more clearly, and feel better in your body.
about US
Leslie West, LPC,
EMDR Certified
Licensed Professional Counselor
​
I work with clients who are motivated to make the necessary changes in their lives so that their minds and bodies can heal. Similar to many of my clients, major life changes left me feeling overwhelmed and stuck. But with therapy and a lot of hard work, I was able to shift my mindset, find meaning in the changes life brought me, and begin the journey of healing my body so I could enjoy life again. Now, I am honored to be a part of other people's journey toward healing. I have honed my counseling method so that you can get the most benefit out of a shorter amount of time in therapy. Together we will work on building coping skills, improving your mind-body connection, and transforming your mindset so that you can learn to live again.
**Please note I do not accept insurance.
Click here for my rates.**
Maximus (Max)
Office Greeter & Therapy Dog in Training
​
I am a miniature poodle, and I am learning to be a therapy dog. I am a graduate of Puppy Preschool and Manners 1, and I'll be attending Manners 2 soon. I do my best to provide comfort, support, and smiles with my friendly and gentle disposition. When I am not in session, I love romping through tall grass and chasing squirrels! Please let my mom know if you prefer for me not to join sessions.
what is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that allows people to heal after difficult life experiences, including loss, often at an accelerated rate. The brain stores these difficult experiences in memory networks. Anytime something happens that reminds the brain of the experience, the memory network starts firing, and all of the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations come flooding back. The goal of EMDR is to stop this from happening.
CBT - Insomnia
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia teaches tools for changing our thought and behavioral patterns around sleep. At least 70-80% of people who participate in CBT-I experience improved duration and quality of sleep. Many clients see improvement in their sleep within 1-2 weeks of starting CBT-I. Once better sleep patterns are in place, many mental and physical processes also improve.
My brain is the key
that sets me free
-Harry Houdini
