EMDR Therapists in Gold River, CA

Leslie earned a B.A. degree with honors in Sociology and Political Science in 1986 and in 1996 completed a Master's in Education with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco. Since 1998 she has offered cutting edge and integrative therapy to clients in her private practice-New Bridge Counseling Services. In 2005 she became the Executive Director of LifeSTAR Sacramento Counseling Agency bringing the LifeSTAR network program to the greater Sacramento area.

You want to live the life you imagined for yourself; however, you find that self-criticism, painful past experiences, & negative feedback from others are taking up most of the space in your head. Your mental & physical energy are drained, leaving you feeling stuck and unmotivated. Your joy & hope are held captive & you find yourself in survival mode doing just what it takes to get through the day. You look at others & long for the success, confidence, & meaningful relationships that they seem to have mastered. You've tried many things (maybe even other therapists) & haven't achieved lasting change.

I have a passion for wholeness and feel honored to walk alongside those who want to grow and those who just feel stuck - whether it's grieving a loss, the immobility of anxiety or depression, coping with life transitions, or working through the heartache of a troubled relationship. I work with men and women, young adults through older adults, and couples. I facilitate groups, and EMDR for trauma. I value spiritual growth and health and can include a spiritual focus.

I am a Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice for nearly 30 years, with a breadth of experience working with individuals, couples and families. I work with those who are looking for change in their lives. I enjoy meeting with clients and helping them discover the peace and happiness they desire and deserve. Change is hard & takes courage to even admit we need to change. A person has to be willing take the risk to change in order to grow. That is when a person will benefit the most from therapy. That is what therapy is about......Growth!

All the little things add up and sometimes it feels like you're drowning in petty things; creating stress, overwhelm, and panic. Other times it makes you want to shut down and shut everything out. You believe you should be able to handle all these little things because each thing isn't really that big; and yet, you feel weak and disappointed in yourself that these "little things" are tripping you up. I'm here to tell you that you don't have to live a life of "death by a thousand cuts." Your response is normal. It's a normal response to a crazy amount of tiny things, but it's not helping. You need new tools and strategies to heal.

Do you hide your emotional pain from others and just do your best to power through on your own? Many of us are scared to share our pain and worries with others out of fear of judgment or burdening others. It may be hard to believe that someone else wants to be there to support you. But we truly want to join you on this journey.

In searching for a therapist, you have taken the courageous first step towards emotional freedom. Whether it is to cope with the challenges of everyday life, overcoming negative or traumatic life experiences, or learning how to work through difficult relationships, I am here to help you achieve a happy healthy future. I work with individuals of all ages including children and adolescents. I strive to provide a safe place where you and/or your child can explore confusing feelings, improve communication, learn to problem solve, and develop healthy boundaries for healthier happier relationships.

I am honored to serve anyone struggling with any type of trauma/PTSD, addiction, depression, or anxiety who wants life to be a little different. Total healing IS possible! I have a passion for non-judgemental connection with people who are nervous about being vulnerable, don’t want therapy, or have had a bad experience in the past. It can be fun and is worth the work! I like to partner with you to discover your strengths and help you reach YOUR goals. My ideal client is someone who has a good sense of humor, a desire for change, an open mind, ok w/an occassional bad word (or two), and MUST love dogs. I do animal assisted therapy.

At Restored Wellness Counseling, we have therapists with varying specialties and we are sure to find a therapist that meets your needs. Our therapists have specialized training in various research-based methods to help you focus on healing from the very first session. Our mission is to help you gain the insight and tools to confidently walk your path to mental health and wellness. We have offices in Elk Grove, Roseville, and Gold River (Hwy 50 & Sunrise). We also see clients online throughout California.

Have you tried every kind of therapy and nothing is giving you the results you’re looking for? It might be because talk therapy can’t heal all wounds. True healing comes from accessing a different part of the brain- the part that was developed when we were young and when most of our traumas occurred. Ketamine assisted therapy can offer you this kind of healing. Ketamine is a legal, safe, and effective medicine used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

I meet with clients at my offices in Elk Grove and Gold River. I specialize in couples, singles and individual counseling of adults. I address issues from trauma & abuse recovery to relationships to anxiety, depression, grief and loss. A key resource in recovery from traumatic events involves strengthening our ability to attach to ourselves and others in a way that soothes and calms our nervous systems and grounds us, based on the latest neurological research and evidence-based techniques. This therapy can be much more effective and require a shorter duration of treatment than traditional talk therapy.

My focus is helping others overcome anxiety, depression, and trauma, while improving communication, relationships, and overall quality of life. If you're seeking support and guidance on your journey towards emotional well-being you've come to the right place. Using evidence-based techniques I create a safe and nurturing environment where we can address your unique challenges.

Welcome! It takes courage to seek support and I commend you for taking the first steps toward healing. In life there may be issues and traumas that affect the way we view ourselves, view and interact with the world, and engage in relationships. There are times when our past or current challenges cause us to feel any number of emotions or feelings and these may have brought you to the place of desiring healing and wholeness or what I like to call, A New Day. I would encourage you to have hope, healing is possible and it would be an honor and privilege to walk with you on your healing journey.

Are there days when you feel like a failure, let yourself down? Or your family down?, trouble concentrating, thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way? Is it hard for you to get out of bed or your home? Go to school or work? Get along with others? Relationship/marriage problems? Are you a worrier?

Do you find yourself taking care of everyone else's needs rather than your own? Do you often feel self-conscious, judge yourself harshly, and worry about making mistakes? Are you struggling with anxiety or insomnia? Many of us had experiences in childhood that made us feel that we weren’t good enough or that we had to be perfect in order to be loved. These beliefs are so ingrained in us that we often aren’t even aware that they exist, but they affect how we see ourselves, how we see the world, and how we relate to others. The good news is that these beliefs CAN be changed.