16+ Years Exp - LCSW
Lesley Petersen
16+ Years Exp
LCSW
18 specialities
Accepts insurance
Telehealth appointments throughout
Call us for details on 16+ Years Exp
LCSW18 specialitiesAccepts insurance
Lesley Petersen
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years experience in the mental health field. I truly enjoy this profession and assisting the clients I have the privilege of working with meet their individual goals. I am experienced in working with clients diagnosed with depression, anxiety, personality disorders and general life stressors, and emotional difficulties. I work with individuals, adolescents, adults, and families. I take the stance of our therapeutic relationship being a joint effort through the change process.
One of my most cherished moments in my career thus far was helping one of my adolescent clients feel safe enough in our therapeutic relationship to acknowledge their suicidal thoughts and disclose to me they had a plan and intent to carry it out. I sat with this adolescent as they bravely disclosed what they had shared with me in session to their parents and as they agreed without hesitation to allow their parents to take them to the nearest emergency crisis unit to get the help they so desperately needed and asked for. This was a day I left work with a "this is why I do what I do" full smile on my face.
Initially I will join with them in easing themselves into the therapeutic process. Let's face it, talking to a complete stranger about deep personal information can be intimidating and awkward at first. So just like any other relationship we have to build a foundation of trust. Once we have that trust - I will make you work toward the change you signed up for and challenge thought and behavioral patterns that are not allowing you to live a life worth living.
I will focus on building our therapeutic relationship. We of course will touch on the issues that brought you in to therapy but at a pace that you feel you are ready for.
All of us that get into this field on some level have our own story that propelled us to want to figure things out or find out a "why" on some level. I love being with my clients in those moments they have that breakthrough "Oh I so get it now" moment. And let's face it, every now and then I get to save a life.
Highlights
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I pride myself on making my therapeutic sessions with clients informative and fun. Former clients of mine have said I leave them with a little "Lesleyism" - easily applied coping skill and therapeutic method that they can use right away to improve their symptoms and make positive change.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I utilize evidence-based therapies, including Psychotherapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy,
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I feel I have a good balance of accepting change is hard and challenging clients to make the necessary steps to move through the change process and reach their goals. I have strong clinical skills to be able to create a safe, open and non-judgmental environment.
Specialities
