Leslie Cates, LPC

Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana with ten years of clinical experience. She works with people facing anxiety, depression, stress, grief, addictions, and other life changes. Leslie aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where clients set the goals and pace of therapy.

She uses a warm, interactive style grounded in client-centered work. That means conversations are shaped around what matters most to the person in the room. Sessions emphasize strengths and practical steps to reduce distress and build more workable coping skills.

Leslie draws on several evidence-informed approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to help people shift unhelpful thoughts and act on their values. She also incorporates techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when processing trauma or managing strong emotions.

Her background includes a Master of Arts in Counseling, completed in New Orleans in December 2016. Over the past decade she has supported people dealing with childhood trauma, abusive relationships, codependency, and complex grief. Leslie also works with concerns related to aging and geriatric issues and caregiver stress.

Her priority is practical progress: clearer thinking, calmer responses, and steps toward a more fulfilling life. If someone is ready to make a change, Leslie offers guided support and skill-building to help reach those goals.

Therapeutic approaches you may use online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice unhelpful thoughts without fighting them. It encourages choosing actions that match personal values even when feelings are difficult, which can help with anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches practical skills to change thinking patterns and behaviors that keep problems going. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress-related concerns and provides concrete homework to practice between sessions.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers tools for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal skills. Elements from DBT can be useful when strong reactions or relationship conflicts get in the way of daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Leslie uses a collaborative process to decide which methods fit a person’s goals and preferences. Her clinical experience guides adaptations so sessions stay practical and focused on real-world change.

Confirm current session formats before scheduling, as specific online options are not listed here. Many people find remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Talk with the therapist during the matching process to choose the schedule and format that suit everyday life.