“Helping people and solving puzzles brings me joy, and therapy allows me to combine the two. Navigating life’s challenges is like putting together a puzzle, and my role is to help identify missing pieces. This may be processing past experiences, understanding current challenges, or identifying missing skills. We work together to flip over and sort the pieces until they fit together to see the big picture and feel good about the result. I believe in a ‘come as you are’ philosophy, even if your puzzle pieces are frayed, or your box is held together with tape.”
Lesley believes in creating a safe space for listening, validation, collaborative problem solving and goal setting with humor and compassion threaded throughout. You can expect therapy to be about understanding how you got to where you are, but also focusing on how to make it better point forward.
Lesley takes an integrative approach that uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions, along with a focus on relationships and how these impact and shape us. She focuses on helping clients set achievable goals, lay out a plan and develop skills to reach those goals. She tailors each treatment plan to meet the unique needs of every person.
Lesley is a fully licensed clinical psychologist at Pine Rest and the clinical director for Pine Rest’s outpatient network. She started at Pine Rest in 2010 as a pre-doctoral psychology intern. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and her master’s degree and PhD in clinical psychology at Wayne State University.