Leslie Cates , LPC

Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana with ten years of experience delivering counseling and psychotherapy. She has worked with people facing a broad range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, stress, major life changes, low self-esteem, codependency, addictions, relationship struggles, PTSD, and grief and loss. She has also supported many adults coping with the effects of childhood trauma and abusive relationships.

Leslie earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in December 2016 in New Orleans, LA. Her counseling style is warm and interactive, grounded in respect, sensitivity, and empathy while avoiding stigmatizing labels. She practices from a client-centered perspective, inviting clients to set their own goals and shaping sessions and treatment plans around each person’s unique needs.

Working through a strengths-based and solutions-focused lens, she draws on multiple treatment approaches to help clients move toward their goals. Her work commonly includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to shift thinking patterns and foster purposeful acceptance, along with techniques from Cognitive Processing Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help process traumatic experiences and regulate difficult emotions. Seeking help is a courageous step, and Leslie aims to support and empower clients as they pursue healing and more fulfilling lives.

Therapeutic approaches and effective online care

Leslie uses a blend of proven approaches tailored to each person’s needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and develop willingness to accept difficult feelings while taking meaningful action toward what matters to them; it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the client’s goals guide the work and the therapist offers empathy and reflection to promote growth and self-understanding. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, concentrates on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and related concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Leslie collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and circumstances, and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds so the work remains practical and personally relevant.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage in that process. Sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter exchanges are possible through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home, work around busy schedules, and maintain continuity of care during life changes.