About leandra, lcmhcA
Why I love this work.
I believe we are all seeking deeper connection to ourselves, to the people we love, and to a life that feels meaningful and authentic. Sometimes the noise and demands of life make it difficult to hear our own inner voice, and therapy can offer a place to slow down, listen, and reconnect. I support clients navigating challenges related to maternal and perinatal health, mood disorders, burnout, parenting, relationship issues, and self confidence. In the therapy setting, I draw from Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused Therapy, somatic approaches, and mindfulness.
From my time in public education to serving in Indonesia with the Peace Corps to becoming a parent, I’ve learned the importance of curiosity, tuning into our internal world, and recognizing that there is always more to someone’s story than what we see on the surface. These experiences have shaped the way I approach this work with compassion, openness, and a genuine belief in each person’s capacity for growth. For me, therapy is ultimately an invitation to know thyself, to better understand who you are and cultivate the self awareness and self compassion to live more authentically.
A Background in Education and Service
After earning my undergraduate degree in International Relations from James Madison University, I spent several years working in property management before joining the Peace Corps. I served for 27 months in Indonesia, where I taught English and immersed myself in a new culture. This experience broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation for cross-cultural understanding and the many ways our experiences shape how we see the world.After returning to the United States, I joined Teach For America and worked as an elementary school teacher in multiple Title I schools. My experience in education strengthened my appreciation for the individual stories, strengths, and circumstances each person brings to their environment, as well as the importance of creating opportunities for connection and growth.
Finding a New Direction
After nearly a decade in education and public service, I felt drawn toward a different way of supporting others. One that allowed for deeper exploration of our inner worlds, relationships, and emotional experiences. Becoming a mother in 2023 brought this desire into sharper focus and prompted me to reconsider what balance, fulfillment, and meaningful work looked like in my own life. Transitioning to counseling allowed me to build on my background in education while pursuing a deeper interest in emotional well-being, self-understanding, and the relationships that shape our lives.
Growing as a Counselor
During my clinical training, I gained experience working with individuals and couples navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, and relationship challenges. These experiences strengthened my interest in helping people better understand themselves, recognize patterns in their lives, and develop more compassionate relationships with themselves and others. I am particularly drawn to maternal and perinatal mental health, life transitions, and couples work. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in North Carolina, I continue to build on my professional background and clinical training to support clients through life's challenges, heartaches, and transitions.
My Approach To Therapy
I believe therapy is less about finding someone to tell you who to be and more about creating the space to discover who you already are. My approach draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness, helping you slow down, listen inward, and approach the different parts of yourself with curiosity and compassion.
I believe that when we develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion, we become more able to live in alignment with what truly matters to us. At the heart of my philosophy is the simple invitation to know thyself. Because sometimes, in the stillness, the heart speaks.
Why I Love Couples Therapy
I love couples therapy because relationships have an incredible ability to bring us both joy and challenge, often revealing parts of ourselves that can be difficult to see on our own. I am fascinated by the patterns that develop between two people - the ways we communicate, protect ourselves, seek connection, and respond when we feel hurt or misunderstood. In couples work, I love helping partners slow down enough to reconnect with their love story while also making space for each person’s individual needs, values, and experiences.
I believe that understanding ourselves more deeply can create new possibilities for understanding and connecting with one another. My hope is to help couples move beyond simply resolving conflict and toward greater curiosity, emotional intimacy, and a deeper appreciation for the person they chose to walk through life with. Ultimately, I want couples to feel more connected not only to each other, but also to themselves.
Working with Women
I’m especially passionate about working with women as they navigate the many transitions and roles that shape their lives. From pregnancy and motherhood to relationships, career changes, and seasons of rediscovering who they are, these experiences can bring both growth and uncertainty. I love creating space for women to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore what they truly need and value beneath the expectations placed upon them. My hope is to help women cultivate greater self-trust, self-compassion, and a deeper sense of connection to who they are.
We are a good fit if —
You’re curious about yourself and open to exploring the thoughts, feelings, patterns, and parts of yourself that shape how you move through the world.
You’re ready to be vulnerable, period. Maybe you’re tired of hiding or carrying the weight of the past. You’re ready for the taste of freedom.
You’re seeking a new version of your experience as a human and are ready to make sustainable changes for yourself and/or your family.
We are not a good fit if —
You’re looking for someone to tell you what to do rather than explore your own answers.
You’re not ready to slow down, turn inward, and get curious about what lies beneath the surface.
You’re looking for a quick fix rather than a willingness to engage in the process of meaningful, sustainable change.