Education:
Master of Education in Counselor Education, Lynchburg College 2015
Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Child and Adolescent Development, Liberty University 2011
Certifications:
Pupil Personnel Services: School Counseling PreK-12, Virginia Board of Education
Resident in Counseling, Virginia Board of Counseling (License #0704011964)
Registered Play Therapist (in progress)
Trainings:
TF-CBT Web
ArtWorks: Therapeutic Art Interventions for Challenging Children
ChildSavers: Trauma Informed Resiliency Training
Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents: Healing the Body Through Play
Play Therapy (various trainings in both directive and non-directive)
ASIST Suicide Prevention
Psychological First Aid
FEMA: Meeting the Needs of Children in Disaster
Child Abuse Neglect Recognition and Prevention
Adult Abuse Neglect Recognition and Prevention
Leah began her career in the mental health field by working in the school setting as a Professional School Counselor. She spent five years working with children and adolescents in this capacity before moving into clinical counseling full-time in an outpatient setting. Leah has a passion for helping children and adolescents explore, and better understand, their feelings in order to assist them in navigating through the difficulties of life through the safety of the therapeutic relationship. Leah also enjoys working with young adults in college and in their early twenties as they navigate the transition into adulthood and process through adverse childhood experiences and/or relational difficulties. Her counseling style is eclectic utilizing modalities from cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, emotion-focused therapy, solution-focused therapy, dialectical-behavioral therapy, attachment based therapy, and strengths-based approaches. She believes in the power of the supportive nature that the counselor-client relationship provides in bringing healing from various life traumas and hardships; therefore she strives to create an environment that provides a sense of safety, is non-judgmental, and is client-centered. Leah’s areas of interest include child counseling, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders, attachment issues, and behavioral concerns.
In her free time Leah enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, traveling, and being outside in nature. She loves game nights, movie nights, exploring new places, or just enjoying deep conversation with loved ones at a local coffee shop. Leah is passionate about missions and serving others and is involved in the local church as well.
