Leslie Lewis (She/Her)

MA, LPC-Associate

Howdy!

My name is Leslie Lewis (she/her) and I’m thrilled that you are starting the process of looking for a therapist. I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and am currently an LPC-Associate working under the supervision of Jennifer Buffalo, LPC-S, LMFT at Luminary Counseling.

My training background and experience have prepared me to work comfortably with a wide array of communities, couples, and individuals from all walks of life. With individuals, I am most passionate about deep identity work and exploration. Whether working with sexuality and kink, exploring self-worth, navigating career choices, or unpacking religious trauma, I view the work we do together through a human-centered lens. With couples, I am most passionate about using Attachment Theory and trauma-informed modalities to create a safe and secure relationship, rooted in positive communication skills and grounded in safety.

No two people are alike, so I don’t use a cookie-cutter approach to address what is being brought into the counseling room. While I pull from multiple modes of therapy, it is common for me to use tools from bio-feedback, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Systems therapy, humanistic approaches in sessions, and more. My style is very equitable and relational, with previous clients saying that my humorous, laid-back approach to the therapeutic relationship put them at ease exceptionally quickly. There is no power hierarchy here: I bring in an expertise in psychology and counseling and you bring in an expertise in your life and experiences. I strongly believe we need both to have a successful and productive counseling relationship. If you think we would be a good fit for the support you’re looking for, please reach out to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Specializations

  • Couples Counseling
  • LGBTQ+ Counseling
  • Life Transitions and Adjustments
  • Multicultural Counseling
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Trauma and Abuse Counseling
  • Women's Issues

Populations of Interest

  • Adults
  • Couples/relationship
  • Multicultural/Minority Populations
  • Women
  • Diverse Relationship Structures (ex: Polyamory or ethical non-monogamy)
  • Individuals with Anxiety Disorders
  • Individuals with Relationship Issues
  • Individuals with Self-Esteem Issues

Fees

$150 for 50 minutes
$215 for 80 minutes

Delivery Method of Services and Languages Spoken

Telehealth - English

Favorite Quote, Movie, Book, or TV Show

By day or star-light thus from my first dawn Of Childhood didst Thou intertwine for me The passions that build up our human Soul, Not with the mean and vulgar works of Man, But with high objects, with enduring things, With life and nature, purifying thus The elements of feeling and of thought, And sanctifying, by such discipline, Both pain and fear, until we recognize A grandeur in the beatings of the heart

-William Wordsworth, The Prelude

A Word from your Therapist

You deserve to be treated as a person, not a project. I think one of my greatest strengths as a therapist is that you will feel like you’re talking to a real human. One who is flawed and doesn’t always get it right, but who is curious and knowledgeable and trying to make sense of this thing called Life just like you are. Also, I’m real fuckin funny, which never hurts.

Educational and Work Background

I received my master’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and held many positions during my five-year practicum tenure there. I have worked at community counseling centers with extremely diverse populations, college counseling centers where the primary work related to stress and suicidality, assessment centers where I worked to help assess and evaluate a variety of presenting problems, and private practice where my primary work was with identity, mood disorders, and trauma.

My research and training interests have been about as varied as my work experience, as I am a voracious learner and student who loves to dive deep into as many topics as I can get my hands on! My research while in school primarily focused on qualitative work such as a documentary about Vietnam veterans with PTSD as well as integrative teaching courses for mental-health providers dealing with burnout. My specialized trainings have a general theme of relational work with couples and individuals with trauma using somatic experiencing, biofeedback, trauma-informed care, and emotionally-focused therapy.

Hobbies or Personal Interests

Last year, I was living in Mexico City to scratch my completely insatiable itch of seeing the world and immersing myself in different cultures and languages. Down there my life involved a lot of time walking the beautiful streets with my dog, going to art museums, dancing bachata, and eating as much delicious food as possible with my friends!

My home tends to have an open-door policy for my friends, so I constantly have people over for dinners or to watch trashy reality TV or play board games. I’ve even dabbled in DND!

When I’m in the States and have access to more of my things, I’m absolutely a hobby collector! The ones that have stuck the longest are baking, embroidery, dancing, and tennis, though I’ve probably tried my hand at most creative things once or twice. I’ve reached the “expert” level on two pastimes: I was a photographer for 15 years and managed to pay my way through grad school with that work, and I also consider myself an avid and insatiable reader! I’m a bit of an art and literature nerd, you might say!

Why Did you Become a Therapist?

I was a mere 16 years old when I decided to become a therapist, and it is truly the only plan I have ever wanted to stick to in my life (I tend to be much more go-with-the-flow). A mentor at my school whom I greatly admired pulled me aside one day and told me that, based on watching how I interacted with and supported my friends, they believed I would make a good therapist. It had never occurred to me before, but it was an absolute lightbulb moment! It just clicked! I never looked back! The further I got into training and education, the more I fell in love with the field! And now, I’m lucky to say that I wake up every day excited to do my job. Some days, I’m a little more excited than others, but that’s usually nothing a little cappuccino can’t fix!

Make An Appointment

Fill out our form today for a free 30-minute face-to-face consultation from any of our therapists!
Call us at 512-657-7744 for more information.

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1-512-657-7744

contact@luminarycounseling.com

Austin, TX

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