Carla Leslie
If you keep getting stuck in the same worries, the same arguments, or the same low mood, you don't have to keep carrying it alone. Maybe anxiety is holding you back at work. Maybe tension at home keeps flaring up, or a big change like a shifting relationship, caregiving, retirement, or a loss has thrown you off balance. I'm Carla Leslie, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with more than 10 years of experience helping teens, adults, older adults, and families with anxiety, depression, stress, family conflict, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I offer virtual therapy anywhere in Florida, so you can meet with me from home.
Licensed mental health counselor with 10+ years experience, offering virtual therapy for anxiety, depression, family conflict, and life transitions.
My style is straightforward and collaborative. Together, we'll find the patterns that keep you stuck. We'll build practical skills for handling hard emotions and communicating more clearly, and we'll work toward changes that fit your life and goals. When you're ready, book a first session and we'll start there.
First session
We'll begin by talking about what brings you to therapy, what has been difficult, and what you would like to change. I'll ask about your history, current concerns, and what has or hasn't helped in the past so we can understand the bigger picture, not just the symptoms. You'll have time to ask questions and get a sense of my approach. Together, we'll identify initial priorities and discuss a plan that fits your needs. You don't need to have everything figured out before we meet.
Strengths
I give honest feedback with compassion and without judgment. I'll tell you what I'm seeing and help you decide what to do with it. We'll move at a pace that feels manageable without losing sight of your goals.
Ideal clients
I work with teens ages 13 and up, adults, and older adults navigating anxiety, depression, family conflict, or life transitions. You may be feeling overwhelmed, experiencing tension in your relationships, adjusting to a new stage of life, or noticing patterns you'd like to understand and change. You may want to manage difficult emotions, strengthen communication, build confidence, or feel more grounded in everyday life. My approach is a good fit for clients who value thoughtful questions, honest feedback delivered with compassion, and a collaborative approach to therapy. You don't need clear goals or all the right words before we begin, we'll work together to understand your concerns and identify what matters to you, at a pace that fits your needs.
Ongoing work together
Our work will be collaborative, focused, and paced to your needs. I'll help you explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and relationships, offering honest feedback with compassion. Drawing on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and meditation-based strategies when appropriate, we'll build practical ways to manage anxiety, low mood, stress, and difficult transitions. We may work on communication, boundaries, or responding differently to recurring challenges. We'll revisit your goals and adjust our approach as we learn what works for you. There is room for both deeper understanding and practical change; you won't be rushed toward a quick solution.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is the foundation of my work. Together, we'll look at how your thoughts, feelings, and actions affect one another, especially the patterns that keep anxiety, low mood, or conflict going. I'll help you notice unhelpful thoughts, test how accurate they really are, and replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. We'll also practice concrete skills you can use between sessions, at a pace that fits you. My goal is for you to leave with tools you can keep using long after therapy ends.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I bring mindfulness and meditation into sessions to help you slow down and notice what you're thinking and feeling without judging yourself for it. This may include short guided practices, breathing and grounding exercises, or simply learning to pause before reacting. These skills can help quiet racing thoughts, lower stress, and help you respond more calmly to difficult emotions or tense moments at home. I often pair mindfulness with CBT and adjust practices to your comfort level, so no meditation experience is needed.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I use solution-focused strategies to keep our work centered on what you want to be different in your life. Rather than only analyzing problems, we'll look at times when things went a little better, what was different then, and the strengths you already have. From there, we'll set clear goals and identify small, realistic steps toward them. "Brief" describes the focus, not the pace. I use this approach within ongoing therapy as well as shorter-term work, and we'll take the time you need.
Supportive
Sometimes what you need most is a steady, nonjudgmental place to be heard. Supportive therapy gives you room to talk openly about what you're carrying, whether that's stress, grief, a health change, caregiving, or a major life transition. I listen carefully, help you sort through your feelings, and strengthen the coping skills that already help you get through hard days. I'll also offer honest perspective when it's useful. This approach can be especially helpful during difficult seasons and can build a foundation for deeper work when you're ready.
Strength-Based
I believe every client brings real strengths, even when they're hard to see in the middle of a struggle. In strengths-based therapy, we'll identify your skills, values, relationships, and past successes, and then put them to work on your current challenges. For families, it can shift the focus from blame to what each person contributes. For adults and older adults, it draws on resilience built over a lifetime. I'll be honest about what's hard while making sure your strengths are part of the plan.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- FloridaLicense MH15457