Leslie Taylor, LPC (she/her)
Founder + Executive Director
Individual & Couples Therapist
Adolescents|Adults|Couples
Gottman + EFT Trained
THE WORK I DO
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I have a passion for working with adults at every stage…young adults, midlife, and later life adults. I know it takes a lot of courage to even step into therapy, and I don’t take that lightly. Whether you’re figuring out a career change, going through a big life shift, or working through stuff from your past, my goal is to build a genuine connection with you. From there, we can work together on healing, building resilience, and finding a stronger sense of yourself.
I specialize in supporting individuals who are navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, later life concerns, complex trauma, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder, gender identity exploration, and substance use challenges.
My style is often described as ‘direct,’ which means I’m present, engaged, and interactive. I want our conversations to be an honest back-and-forth where you feel understood and supported. Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to go through it alone.
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Starting therapy can feel kinda awkward—like, “Am I really supposed to spill my whole life story to someone I just met?” Totally get it. That’s why in the beginning, we’re not diving into heavy stuff right away. Instead, we’ll just hang out a bit—maybe play a card game, do something creative, or just chat about random things. The point is to actually get to know each other and keep things low-pressure. It’s about finding some common ground, sharing a few laughs, and making sure you feel comfortable before we get into anything more personal.
After that, we can figure out where to go together. Being a teenager is kinda weird—you’re not a little kid anymore, but you’re also not fully an adult. And life right now can feel like a lot: school stress, scary world events, social media, tech drama—it all piles up. The way you and your friends deal with this stuff isn’t the same as how adults do, and therapy should match that.
This isn’t about giving you more to worry about. Our sessions are your space to slow down, feel heard, and get some real-life tools to handle what’s on your plate. Think of it as building skills to help you stress less, bounce back quicker, and feel more confident about where you’re headed. And it’s all at your pace, on your terms, with an adult who has no agenda or judgement…just a desire to be in your corner.
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Whether you’re wanting to build a deeper connection, navigating a crisis like infidelity, or just trying to figure out how to have conversations where you actually feel heard and understood—I’m here to help you get there.
My work with couples is rooted in the Gottman Method, and I also draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, and Attachment Theory. With these approaches, I partner with couples to both understand the challenges they’re facing, uncover the strengths already present in their relationship, and get clear on what they truly want for their future together.
That clarity is an important step—most people know what they don’t want, but struggle to put words to what they do want. By focusing on what is wanted…we can begin to move away from the problems that caused the wounds, and towards solutions that will heal your relationship.
From there, we work together to break unhelpful patterns while also building new ones that strengthen your bond. This might look like creating shared goals for your life together, learning healthier ways to manage conflict, and discovering more meaningful ways to connect in everyday moments.
It’s an honor to hold space for your relationship, whether you’re working through pain, leaning into growth, or both. My commitment is to support you in creating a stronger, more fulfilling partnership where you feel understood and connected.
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I truly enjoy working with couples preparing for marriage or long-term commitment. Premarital counseling is such a meaningful opportunity to strengthen your bond and build a shared foundation for the future. In our sessions, we’ll explore how you communicate, manage conflict, and express love—drawing from Gottman principles to foster healthy patterns and understanding.
Using Emotionally Focused techniques, we’ll look beneath the surface to better understand your emotional needs and deepen your connection. I also integrate mindfulness practices to help you stay grounded and intentional with each other.
Together, we’ll talk about the vision you have for your life as a couple and navigate important topics—like finances, family, intimacy, and values—that can sometimes feel uncomfortable to tackle on your own. My goal is to help you both grow in trust, compassion, and confidence as you move forward together.
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I offer discernment counseling for couples who feel uncertain about the future of their relationship—where one partner may be leaning toward separation while the other hopes to repair and rebuild. Based on the model developed by Dr William Doherty and Elizabeth Doherty Thomas MS, this approach is designed to help couples gain clarity and confidence about the next step for their relationship, whether that’s pursuing reconciliation or moving toward separation with understanding and respect.
In our sessions, we’ll take things one step at a time, creating a calm and supportive space where each partner can be truly heard. We’ll explore what’s brought you to this point, what each of you has already tried, and what you both envision for your future—both together and individually. Using Gottman-informed insights, Emotionally Focused techniques, and mindfulness practices, I help couples communicate with compassion and curiosity rather than blame or defensiveness. Generally, this process is encompassed in 5-6 sessions.
Discernment counseling isn’t about fixing the relationship right away—it’s about slowing down, understanding what’s really happening, and making thoughtful, intentional choices. My goal is to support you both in finding clarity, honesty, and peace in whatever direction you choose to move forward.
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When couples have made the difficult decision to separate or divorce, it can be an emotional and deeply personal time, filled with both grief and growth. My goal is to help both partners move through this transition with compassion, clarity, and respect. Using Emotionally Focused and mindfulness-based practices, I create a supportive space where each person can process their emotions, communicate more effectively, and find a sense of closure that honors the relationship you’ve shared.
For couples with children, we’ll focus on building a cooperative co-parenting relationship and navigating conversations with your children in a way that is age-appropriate, supportive, and reassuring. Whether you’re managing practical challenges or the emotional process of letting go, I’m here to help you move forward with intention and care, creating a foundation for healing and new beginnings.
My Personal Experience
Sometimes people just need someone to offer a stabilizing hand to help guide us through the rough spots until we begin to recognize how resilient we are. I have witnessed enough comeback stories during my career to know this is true. In fact, one of those comeback stories is my own. In my work with clients, I often draw inspiration from my own personal journey.
MY WORK WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
Overcoming a dependence on alcohol gave me a deep and personal understanding of the immense fear, shame, and hopelessness that often comes with a substance use disorder. I know firsthand that even when it feels unattainable, recovery is always possible. A mentor once told me during my recovery, “Where there’s breath, there’s hope.” That truth has stayed with me, and today I feel incredibly grateful, not only for those who helped me along the way, but also for the opportunity to now be that source of help and hope for others.
MY WORK WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
My passion for helping people struggling with anxiety and depression comes from my own journey. As a child, my anxiety was so overwhelming that I often became physically sick before the first day of school. Over time, the constant effort to cope left me exhausted, depressed, and eventually relying on unhealthy ways to manage those feelings.
That experience shaped the way I practice today. I help clients understand where their anxiety and depression come from so we can work toward lasting healing, not just temporary relief.
MY WORK WITH TEENS
My personal experiences also shape the way I work with adolescents. My path to earning a master’s degree was anything but linear. I struggled in school throughout my life, graduating high school with a low GPA and then withdrew from college after my freshman year. It was years later before I returned to college. At the time, I thought it was about my intelligence.
What I didn’t realize then was that it was really about anxiety, insecurity, and the weight of processing difficult life events, like my parents’ divorce. Because of that, I can deeply relate to teens who are struggling to find their footing. When I tell them “I get it,” I truly mean it. To be able to sit with them in those hard moments and offer a way forward is the greatest accomplishment of my life.
MY WORK WITH COUPLES
My own divorce in my 30s was a very painful experience. Even though the process was not contentious, I was left grieving the loss of the life I thought I would have and feeling like a failure. Through therapy, I began to see how old wounds and unhealthy patterns on both sides had shaped our relationship. I also learned to take an honest look at my own contributions, which helped me grow in ways I never imagined possible. Today, having remarried, I feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned, both personally and professionally, to my work with couples.
If, however, you are seeking support in gaining clarity on whether or not you want to continue the relationship, or have made the difficult decision to separate or divorce, I offer discernment and separation counseling to help you navigate this process in a way that diminishes stress and anxiety, and fosters respect and cooperation.
My Clinical Style and Education
All of the challenges I faced, and the resilience I built through them, have brought me to this point. And being able to use those experiences to help others makes every difficult step of my journey worthwhile. If there’s one message I want every person I work with to hold onto, it’s this: you are so much stronger than you realize. Together, we’ll move through the challenges, side by side, until that strength becomes something you can feel and claim for yourself.
My style is a mix of compassion, understanding, gentle challenging, empathy and, at times, a good dose of humorous levity. I take what’s known as a ‘direct approach’ to therapy. That means I’ll be engaged in our conversations, asking questions, sharing thoughts, and giving feedback along the way. I also want you to know this is a safe space, so while I’ll be active in the dialogue, I’ll always respect your pace and comfort.
I think of myself as having a flashlight as we navigate a hike. I am able to illuminate pathways you can take and help to point out possible pitfalls along the way. Ultimately you will lead us, with me by your side lending support and guidance.
Most often I draw from strengths based interventions and implement strategies from therapies such as Mindfulness, the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Narrative Therapy.
I hold a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Fox University and am a Licensed Professional Counselor with the State of Oregon (Lic. # C9013). I work to continually enrich my competencies with neurodivergent, intellectual & developmental challenges, and the unique stress and trauma felt by LGBTQIA+, and multicultural communities.
My Life Beyond the Counseling Room
When I’m not in the office I try to indulge in self-care as often as possible. I love exploring new places, watching films (especially documentaries), and trying any and all new foods. I’m also crazy about treasure hunting at estate sales and thrift stores! Most of all, I cherish time spent with my family, friends, and our pets…our goofy cat Lizzie and our two delightful dogs, Lady and Harley.
HARLEY
LIZZIE
LADY
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Click here to book a free consultation
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I currently accept Regence BCBS, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Optum, MODA, and OHP Open Card insurance.
For clients paying out-of-pocket, I can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt) that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
We are also in the process of contracting with additional insurance companies, so please reach out if your plan is not listed above.
In addition, I offer a limited number of sliding scale rates for clients who meet income requirements. I’m happy to provide more information—please don’t hesitate to ask.
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