Leslie Libutti , LCSW

Leslie Libutti is a licensed clinical social worker in California with 20 years of professional experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, grief, motivation challenges, self-esteem concerns, and depression. She draws on a compassionate, collaborative style to help individuals clarify goals, identify strengths, and strengthen coping skills so they can move forward with greater clarity and resilience.

Leslie believes that many barriers are self-imposed and that thoughtful reflection and attentive listening can make those obstacles more visible and easier to address. She acknowledges that therapy can bring discomfort - including frustration, fear, or sadness - and also moments of joy, humor, and authenticity. Her approach honors that this is each person’s life and that investing in oneself is worthwhile.

In addition to client-centered and cognitive approaches, Leslie integrates poetry therapy with some clients, using poetry as a tool to deepen emotional understanding and self-awareness. Her work also includes attention to aging and geriatric concerns, caregiver stress, body image, codependency, communication and control issues, forgiveness, guilt and shame, hospice and end-of-life counseling, isolation and loneliness, life purpose, self-love, and women’s issues. Leslie balances practical strategies with empathic support to help people navigate meaningful life changes.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Leslie Libutti uses client-centered therapy to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the person’s own goals and values guide the work. This approach focuses on empathy, active listening, and helping people access their inner strengths to address issues like low self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship concerns.

She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT offers practical tools for managing anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills for changing thinking patterns and building effective coping strategies.

Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Leslie works with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and together they determine which methods fit best for the client’s situation. That partnership helps tailor sessions to be relevant and useful.

Online therapy with Leslie is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from home, and integrate therapeutic work into everyday life while working with licensed professionals and therapists.