PuttingFamilyFirst

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LL Portrait of Lesa Leiden
Online therapist

Lesa Leiden

Relationship-focused guidance for families

Credentials
LPC, LMHC
Experience
21 years
Licensed in
Oregon, Florida
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Lesa

Lesa Leiden is a licensed counselor who helps people facing relationship and family concerns. She addresses intimacy issues, parenting challenges, stress, anxiety, trauma, and grief. Lesa also supports people coping with self-esteem struggles, depression, life changes, and ADHD.

She uses direct, practical conversation so parents can get clear strategies that fit daily life. Lesa leans on over 21 years of clinical experience to guide work on communication and connection. She blends Client-Centered Therapy with cognitive tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people recognize thoughts and try new behaviors.

Background and approach

The Gottman Method informs her work on relationship patterns and rebuilding trust after infidelity or separation. Her practice also explores less common relationship structures and sexual diversity with respect and curiosity, including polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, and kink-informed topics. Lesa addresses blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, fertility and midlife transitions, and challenges tied to chronic illness or veteran-related issues.

Lesa holds an Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor credential and a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor license listed as FL LMHC MH27262. She structures sessions to focus on clear goals, improved communication, and practical steps parents can try between meetings. Sessions aim to help people manage immediate problems and build longer-term skills.

The tone in the room is collaborative and down-to-earth, focused on what will actually change day to day.

Approaches for online family and relationship work

Lesa commonly draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online sessions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening without judgment and helping people find their own solutions, which suits conversations about parenting, caregiving stress, or life purpose. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and test small changes in behavior, which is useful for managing anxiety, depression, and everyday stress.

She also uses the Gottman Method when couples or partners want help with communication patterns and rebuilding trust. The Gottman approach breaks down common interaction habits and teaches specific skills for better conversations and problem solving in relationships.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Lesa will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then recommend strategies and adjust them over time. Clients often try a mix of listening-centered work and skill-based exercises to match their needs.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to continue work between appointments. Many people find that regular, shorter check-ins by chat or text help keep progress moving while video or phone sessions allow for deeper conversation.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Gottman Method

A research-based framework for couples, focused on how partners argue, repair, and stay connected. Practical and structured, with exercises to try between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Lesa address?
She works with relationship and family issues, intimacy concerns, parenting problems, stress, anxiety, trauma and grief, plus ADHD and self-esteem difficulties.
How would you describe Lesa's therapeutic style?
Her style is warm and practical. Sessions focus on clear goals, communication skills, and concrete steps people can try between meetings.
What experience does she bring?
Lesa has 21 years of clinical experience supporting people through life transitions, relationship conflict, and parenting challenges.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LPC in Oregon with license OR LPC c3835 and a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor listed as FL LMHC MH27262, and practices from Oregon.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Lesa?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

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