Dr. Leslie Lass

As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia and Florida, I provide teletherapy to adults 17 and older. I have more than 10 years of behavioral health experience, primarily working with adults experiencing complex trauma (cPTSD), ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression and other mood disorders, chronic illness, chronic pain, grief and loss, and major life transitions. I also have experience working with individuals who have been diagnosed with bipolar and psychotic disorders. I have specialized training in childhood trauma and how it can continue to affect us into adulthood, including an eight-month Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies completed in 2023 with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score. Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than 20 years teaching college-level writing, literature, research, and critical thinking. I have been a writer for the better part of my life and also have a longstanding interest in spirituality and the ways people make meaning of their lives.

I believe therapy begins with curiosity—about who you are, what has shaped you, and how those influences may be affecting your life today. Therapy offers an opportunity to understand your experiences more fully and to consider what, if any, changes you might wish to make. My approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and nonjudgmental. I begin with a careful assessment and will work with you to develop a shared understanding of the challenges you are facing. I use an integrative approach, drawing, for example, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy as well as from psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, and solution-focused approaches.

Our first session is a chance to talk about what brings you to therapy and to explore what you hope to get from our work together. I will ask about your current concerns, relevant history, and goals for therapy. Most importantly, I want you to feel heard and understood rather than feel that I am judging you or assuming in advance that I know what you need. The first session is also a chance for you to ask questions and to decide whether my approach feels like a good fit for you.