Leonette Walker

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 24 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. My professional background includes community-based treatment, family therapy, behavioral health services, clinical supervision, school-related concerns, child welfare involvement, and complex family systems.

I have advanced training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, play therapy, trauma-informed treatment, motivational interviewing, EMDR, and parent coaching. I work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, family conflict, parenting challenges, behavioral concerns, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, attachment concerns, and major life transitions.

My style is direct, honest, and solution-focused. I will listen and provide support, but I will also challenge patterns, avoidance, and behaviors that are interfering with your progress. I believe therapy requires accountability, consistency, and a willingness to do the work outside of sessions.

My approach to therapy is direct, structured, and individualized. I help clients identify the thoughts, behaviors, emotional responses, and relationship patterns that continue to create problems in their lives. We will discuss how those patterns developed, but we will also focus on what needs to change moving forward.

I use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, trauma-informed interventions, motivational interviewing, play therapy, and parent coaching. I provide practical feedback, clear expectations, and strategies that can be applied outside of the therapy session.

I do not believe in attending therapy simply to repeatedly discuss the same problems without taking steps toward change. Clients can expect compassion and understanding, but they can also expect accountability. My role is not to tell clients what they want to hear. My role is to help them increase insight, make healthier decisions, improve their relationships, and develop more effective ways of managing their emotions and circumstances.

The first session is focused on determining what is happening, what has contributed to the current concerns, and what the client wants to accomplish in therapy. We will discuss symptoms, relevant personal and family history, current stressors, previous treatment experiences, coping patterns, relationships, and any barriers that may interfere with progress.

Clients can expect direct questions and an honest discussion about the concerns that brought them to treatment. I will explain my clinical approach, clarify expectations, and begin identifying specific and realistic treatment goals.

The first session is also an opportunity for both the client and therapist to determine whether the therapeutic relationship is a good fit. Clients should leave with a clearer understanding of the concerns being addressed, the expectations for treatment, and the next steps.