- Strengths-based care
- Values-driven change
- Trauma-informed support
About Leslie
Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana with 10 years of clinical experience. She offers calm, direct support for people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, codependency, addictions, grief, and other life challenges. Her approach is practical and respectful, and she aims to help clients move toward clearer thinking and healthier choices.
Leslie earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in December 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Over the past decade she has worked with people affected by childhood trauma, abusive relationships, PTSD, and complicated grief. She emphasizes a nonjudgmental, strengths-based stance and avoids stigmatizing labels.
Her style is warm and interactive, and she centers clients' goals when planning sessions. She draws on client-centered therapy to let the person guide the pace and topics, while shaping dialogue and interventions to fit each situation. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help change unhelpful thinking patterns and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to encourage values-driven action.
Leslie integrates tools from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy when people need skills for emotion regulation or ways to process traumatic memories. Sessions focus on concrete steps - skill practice, thought work, and values clarification - so people can apply what they learn between visits.
Seeking help is a courageous step, and Leslie aims to support clients through practical strategies and steady encouragement. She welcomes conversations about goals and next steps.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and taking steps toward those values even when uncomfortable feelings are present. It is useful for anxiety, depression, codependency, and making life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors by teaching practical skills to reframe thinking and change actions; it often helps with anxiety, sleep issues, and mood concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides concrete emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills for people who need better ways to manage strong feelings and reactions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and the problems they want to address. Together they will choose which methods to emphasize and adjust the plan over time so it fits the person's needs.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow quicker check-ins between appointments. They also let people practice skills and discuss real-life situations that come up between visits, helping the work carry over into daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Louisiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Leslie help with?
Leslie works with stress, anxiety, depression, codependency, addictions, grief, trauma and related concerns such as self-esteem, sleep problems, anger, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is warm and interactive, using a client-centered approach that keeps the person's goals first while offering practical tools and skill practice.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 10 years of counseling experience and earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in December 2016.
What credentials and region should I know about?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the country work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.