Leslie Cates, LPC

Leslie Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana with 10 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship strain, and life changes. Leslie focuses on practical shifts in thinking and everyday habits so clients can cope better day to day.

Leslie earned a Master of Arts in Counseling in New Orleans in December 2016. Her style is warm and interactive, and she aims to treat everyone with respect and sensitivity. She uses a client-centered approach so each person sets their goals and direction for therapy.

In sessions she leans on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and elements from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy. She helps people notice and change unhelpful thoughts while also building acceptance and skills to manage strong emotions. The work is practical and aimed at real-life changes.

Leslie has worked with survivors of childhood trauma and abusive relationships, and she supports people struggling with codependency, compassion fatigue, sleep problems, and chronic illness-related stress. She combines a strengths-based, solutions-focused lens with interventions chosen to match each person’s needs.

Her approach centers on collaboration: clients and therapist create a plan together. She encourages small, achievable steps so progress feels manageable. When people are ready to make a change, she offers steady support and skill-building toward clearer thinking and healthier habits.

Online approaches that focus on thoughts and habits

Leslie commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when working online. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) uses mindfulness and values-based work to help people accept difficult feelings while moving toward what matters to them. It can help when avoidance and stuck patterns get in the way of everyday life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and routines. CBT is practical and often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress-related issues.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Leslie will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods and exercises to try and can adjust the plan as progress is made.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online work can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports using worksheets, thought records, and mindfulness exercises between sessions so change continues outside of meetings.