Leslie Cates, LPC

Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Louisiana with ten years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, low self-esteem, relationship strain, and major life changes. Leslie focuses on helping people who have been affected by trauma or abusive relationships. She aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where clients set their own goals and direction.

Leslie uses a client-centered approach that keeps the person's priorities in the lead. She combines that with practical methods drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people shift unhelpful thinking and build more effective habits. She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy tools when working through trauma and strong emotions.

Her sessions emphasize strengths and problem solving rather than labels or blame. Conversations are interactive and tailored to each person's needs. Leslie helps clients translate insight into clear steps they can try between sessions.

People who juggle chronic health concerns, caregiver stress, or chronic pain often seek support for how those issues affect mood and daily life. Leslie has experience helping clients manage the emotional impact of long-term illness and disability while addressing related concerns like sleep, anger, and coping skills.

Leslie earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in December 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She invites anyone ready to make a change to begin with a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session to see if it feels like a good fit.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Leslie commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in her work. ACT emphasizes noticing thoughts and values-driven action so people can act toward what matters despite hard feelings. It is useful for anxiety, chronic health challenges, and when life shifts make choices feel harder. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and changing behaviors to improve mood and function, which can help with depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and coping skills.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what methods feel most useful. Together they will try strategies, adjust as needed, and pick tools that fit the person's daily life and needs.

The biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm current session options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people practice skills in the settings where they live and work, and sessions can be scheduled to accommodate work or caregiving responsibilities.