Leora Mirkin, LCSW

Leora Mirkin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Wisconsin who helps people handle anxiety, stress, mood concerns, and identity-related challenges. She aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can talk about what matters to them and practice steps toward better day-to-day coping. Her approach is relaxed but focused on practical change.

Leora often works with people from LGBTQIA+ and poly communities and draws on her own lived experience to understand the pressures that come with identity differences. Sessions emphasize clear skills and strategies to manage intrusive thoughts, low self-esteem, body image concerns, and relationship boundaries. She uses evidence-informed methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness to guide problem solving.

Leora also supports people facing trauma, depression, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and gender dysphoria. She blends acceptance-based and attachment-aware ways of working to help clients notice patterns and try new behaviors. Conversations can include tools for emotion regulation, exposure to fears, and work on communication and boundaries.

Clients should expect regular responses to messages from Monday through Friday, which Leora answers at least once each weekday excluding holidays. She offers messaging and Live Chat as session formats and asks people who prefer phone or video to choose a different clinician.

To start, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to the therapist’s availability. Leora emphasizes practical steps people can use between sessions to make steady progress toward goals.

How Leora’s approaches translate to online care

Leora uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. CBT often involves setting small experiments, practicing new responses, and using simple homework between chats to build better habits.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps people clarify values and accept hard feelings while taking meaningful action. ACT can be useful for anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and life transitions where someone wants to live more in line with their values.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Leora works collaboratively to see what methods match a person’s goals and comfort level. She will try strategies together with each client and adjust the focus based on progress and preference.

Leora offers messaging and Live Chat as the session formats listed in her profile. If you want phone or video instead, confirm those options before booking or choose another clinician. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let clients practice skills in real time between contacts.