Child Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA

Are you feeling "stuck" in your life right now? Do you notice recurring dysfunctional patterns in your life that you'd like to stop? Is it impacting your work, social, and/or academic life? Are your relationships being impacted by Covid 19?

Good for you for taking the first step in reaching out for support. I appreciate that it can be challenging to make that initial move in creating change. I am a strength-based therapist who has been in practice for over 18 years. I work with individuals and families with my specialty being adolescents and people dealing with transitions in their lives.

I believe in a collaborative therapeutic partnership, one that is supportive, alleviates emotional pain, and promotes growth and healing. My goal is to provide you and your family with the tools to create and maintain life-affirming change in order to lead a more balanced and empowered life.

This is not always easy work. Exploring trauma, sadness, anxiousness, fear, doubt, insecurities, change, and more can be challenging and even scary. So much has shifted in our world, it feels as if it has also unearthed new chances to also allow ourselves to grow. I imagine that’s why you’re here, searching for ways to connect with and support these parts of yourself, or to help a younger loved one do so. In my work, I choose to employ curiosity and acceptance, informed by models such as Internal Family Systems, to gently lean into change and healing at the client's pace.

Often life presents us with difficulties and painful challenges. I can help whether your intention is to heal from past or current emotional struggles or to improve relationships. Together we can explore your strengths as well as your difficulties to find solutions. I work with individuals, couples, and families to strengthen relationships and improve communication. I have a strong appreciation for diversity and believe each individual has unique gifts. I am skilled in responding to your individual needs with compassion and respect.

Warm Greetings. I'm here to support you in Living Your Best Life. Let's work together to get you there. I can help you navigate challenges & discover your path forward. I believe we all know how to heal ourselves. My role is to guide you in this process. My experience: 16 yrs. working with clients of all ages. Focus: Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, parenting, troubled teens, self-harm, divorce, substance abuse, Survivors of childhood sexual abuse & breast cancer. I also offer parents guidance navigating Special Education Systems in schools & colleges, assuring students receive needed accommodations & services.

So glad that you are here. Whether you are struggling with something that has recently arisen, or are ready to dive into healing the past, I am here to support you in your journey. I am a Somatic based psychotherapist who works to integrate trauma through safely accessing the body and mind. LGBTQIA affirmative and diversity oriented, I aim to address underlying systems of power within and surrounding each of us. In doing so, I work in a way that supports and nurtures whatever shows up.

Life can be overcome by stress easily, and for some of us that stress becomes unbearable. Thoughts and feelings become overwhelming, leaving life feeling out of control and chaotic. In my work, I bring a wealth of curiosity and compassion to exploring a person's inner world of thoughts and feelings. Through this exploration, clients find deep internal healing and develop meaningful satisfaction in their work, relationships, and most of all within themselves. I am trained in Internal Family Systems therapy, which has given me a means to help people reach their goals and create the life they long for.

Leslie approaches all her sessions with warmth, humor, curiosity, and honesty. She provides a secure and trustworthy atmosphere. Leslie collaborates with her clients to identify growth possibilities and set goals. Leslie recognizes the value of developing a therapeutic relationship with each client, and she approaches each one with understanding and acceptance. Leslie recognizes that going to therapy can be intimidating, and she appreciates the courage it takes to start a journey toward healing.

Life is complicated. It's full of twists and turns and sometimes we lose our way. My passion is to support you along this path and honor your courage to start a process of self-discovery. I can assist you in emerging from a life perspective where you feel stuck into an understanding of your choices that will help you heal, have more fulfilling relationships. A good therapist can help! My life experiences have taught me a lesson: that it's hard to be human and as such, my clients will always deserve all my empathy and attention.

Would you like to feel empowered and at ease with life and yourself? Whether you're going through life transition, having relationship problems, dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma or looking for a deeper purpose in life, I would be honored to support you in your process of growth and healing. When the deepest parts of you get to be seen, held and accepted, it transforms into your light and strength. In this process you'll learn how to listen and trust your innate wisdom and guidance, you'll become resourceful, empowered and free to consciously create the life you want.

My therapeutic approach is rooted in my deep respect and genuine interest in people. Since I am an expressive and inquisitive person, it comes naturally to me to practice a style of therapy that is both interactive and eclectic. I offer insights, observations, suggestions, feedback, as well as attentive listening. I am adaptable and able to adjust my style according to what works best for the client. As a team, my clients and I work together to find creative solutions to overcome obstacles to growth and well-being.

Do you find yourself constantly meeting the needs of others, leaving little time and energy for your own well-being? I'm here to support you on your path to a more balanced, happy life. Therapy can be a sanctuary where you are the priority and your needs are truly heard. Together we’ll develop the tools you need to navigate the complexities of work-life balance, tricky family dynamics and parenting / caretaking struggles. In our sessions we'll uncover your strengths, sharpen your communication skills, and give you the confidence to embrace life's twists and turns. You'll be empowered to discover the answers you hold within.

Many of the common symptoms people experience are actually related to chronic stress or trauma. This is not recognized by most physicians, so patients are often prescribed multiple medications and referred to many subspecialists, without any real relief of their symptoms. I help patients identify if their symptoms are actually related to stress or trauma, and use brain-based and somatic-based therapies to treat headaches, chronic pain, digestive problems, sleep problems, dizziness, fainting, anxiety, panic attacks or unexplained neurological symptoms (visual changes, non-epileptic events or conversion disorder).

These are turbulent times that place an extra burden on our mental health. In addition, perhaps you're in a role of caring for others and struggle to find enough time for yourself, or you're in the midst of a challenging life event or transition. You may be experiencing some symptoms that concern you. Stress, anxiety, depression, loss, or unresolved trauma can interfere with moving forward and put stress on our relationships. In my role as your witness and collaborator, I offer a comfortable and safe space for you to process, problem solve, and explore ways to re-connect with your own internal wisdom.

It is such a privilege and an honor to work with people to improve their lives. I would love to talk to you about ways we can work together to strengthen your connections to others and help you increase your self awareness so that you are able to have the relationships and life you desire.

Maybe NOW is the right time. Maybe I am the person. Do you need support and strategies to help you through a difficult time or address a particular problem? Let me help. It is an honor to connect with you and work together to help you overcome obstacles, adjust to transitions, and help you become the person, couple, or family that you want to become. Benefit from my 18+ years of experience, as well as my lifelong active and vital pursuit of knowledge and well-being. Compassionate, effective, intelligent and holistic. Let me help and support you in moving forward.

Welcome! May I walk beside you as you continue to uncover, untangle, embody and enliven your life's purpose? I seek to be witness and ally to your own personal life's journey. C.G. Jung states, "Every advance; even the smallest, along the path of conscious realization adds that much to the world".

I believe that the ups and downs of life aren't meant to be experienced alone. Whether your exploring how your childhood experiences created patterns in your life that you want to understand or rewrite, or moving through current challenges in this chapter of your life, I am here to hold a safe and non-judgmental space to move through challenging times. I also work with clients that have experienced early childhood neglect and complex trauma with the use of therapeutic touch.