Leslie Cates, LPC

Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Louisiana who helps people manage anxiety, depression, stress, addictions, grief, and life transitions. She offers a calm, respectful presence and focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Leslie aims to build a working relationship where the client's goals guide each session.

Leslie has 10 years of counseling experience and completed a Master of Arts in Counseling in December 2016. She uses a client-centered approach that keeps the person's needs and values at the center of care. That means clients set goals and Leslie helps shape conversations and plans to reach them.

Her work draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at thoughts and behaviors, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which emphasizes willingness and values-based action. She also uses tools from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help manage strong emotions and improve relationships.

Sessions tend to be warm and interactive, with a focus on strengths and practical solutions. Leslie helps people notice unhelpful thinking, try new behaviors, and practice skills for coping with stress, anger, sleep trouble, or substance-related concerns.

She has supported many people processing trauma, abusive relationships, and complicated grief. Leslie also addresses issues like ADHD, caregiver stress, chronic illness, body image, and communication problems. Her style is compassionate and nonjudgmental, aimed at empowering people to move toward the life they want.

Online approaches that fit your life

Leslie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can ease anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and substance-related difficulties. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values, practice willingness, and take meaningful action even when emotions feel strong. Client-Centered Therapy is part of her approach as well, offering a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client's goals lead the work.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Leslie will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs, and together they decide which methods to try. This collaborative process lets the work shift as progress is made or new issues arise.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and situations. Video calls allow for face-to-face conversation, phone sessions work well with lower bandwidth, live chat supports shorter check-ins, and messaging provides ongoing access between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or busy routines while maintaining consistent progress.