Leslie Rice, LCSW

Leslie Rice is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She practices in North Carolina and brings a direct, practical style to sessions. Leslie aims to make the first steps toward change feel manageable for people who are worried or overwhelmed.

Leslie focuses on concrete tools to reduce distress and build steadier day-to-day routines. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside acceptance-based and skills-oriented approaches to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try new responses. Sessions are conversational and task-focused so people leave with simple, usable strategies.

Many clients come for help with relationship strain, gender and LGBT concerns, grief, parenting stress, or trauma and abuse. Leslie also supports people dealing with ADHD challenges, anger, body image worries, and complicated grief. She adapts the work to each person rather than following a one-size-fits-all plan.

Her approach is collaborative. Leslie listens first, and then she suggests short, achievable steps clients can try between sessions. She pays attention to emotional safety and practical barriers so progress can fit into a busy life.

Leslie brings sensitivity and respect to conversations about identity, loss, and difficult life transitions. She helps people clarify values, practice new skills, and regain a sense of control when life feels chaotic or painful.

How Leslie uses evidence-based approaches online

Leslie commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and depression. ACT helps people notice what matters to them and take actions that match those values even when feelings are difficult.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance when that fits a person's needs. DBT skills teaching can be useful for managing strong emotions, impulsivity, and relationship stress. The therapist will work together with each person to decide which approach or combination feels most helpful based on goals and preferences.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to work with Leslie. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations. Phone sessions can fit into a work break or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging make brief check-ins and skill practice easier between scheduled sessions. These options can help people keep consistency and apply new skills in daily life.