- Client-centered
- Trauma-informed
- Skills-based
About Leslie
Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana with 10 years of clinical experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, sleeping problems, grief, addiction, low self-esteem, depression, and relationship concerns. Her manner is warm and interactive, and she focuses on helping each person set their own goals for therapy.
Leslie earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in December 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She uses a client-centered approach that respects each person's values and choices. Sessions emphasize strengths and practical steps people can use between meetings.
She draws from several methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These methods are used to help change unhelpful thoughts, increase willingness to act on values, and manage intense emotions. Leslie also uses techniques from Emotionally-Focused Therapy and cognitive processing approaches when trauma and relationship patterns are central concerns.
Leslie works with people who have experienced childhood trauma, abusive relationships, or ongoing life transitions. She avoids stigmatizing labels and focuses on real-world skills and understanding. Conversations are tailored to what each person needs at the time.
Therapy with Leslie is collaborative: she listens, offers tools, and helps clients practice new ways of coping and relating. If someone is ready to make a change, she aims to provide steady support and practical help.
How Leslie blends therapeutic approaches for online care
Leslie often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small steps toward them while accepting difficult thoughts and feelings. ACT can help when someone struggles with avoidance, worry, or making changes that matter to them.She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and build practical coping skills for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. CBT sessions usually include straightforward exercises and between-session practice to reinforce new habits.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Leslie will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences, and she will adjust the plan as progress is made.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let someone use video when they want face-to-face interaction or choose options that require less bandwidth for a simpler phone-style meeting. These practical choices help people maintain consistent care while juggling work, family, and daily responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Louisiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Leslie address in therapy?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, sleeping problems, grief, addictions, depression, self-esteem, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, anger, career stress, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and related challenges.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm and interactive, using a client-centered, strengths-based, and solutions-focused approach that centers the client's goals.
How long has she been practicing?
Leslie has 10 years of experience providing counseling and psychotherapy services.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps should someone take to begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.