- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Goal setting and skills
About Lesley
Lesley Schwam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 12 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and relationship or family concerns, including issues around intimacy, addiction, and ADHD. Lesley emphasizes practical steps clients can take between sessions to change daily behaviors and move toward clearer goals.
Lesley uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to shape short and longer term plans. Early sessions focus on learning coping skills, self-care routines, and basic boundary and communication strategies. She works with clients on concrete tools for managing panic, improving mood, and handling grief or life transitions.
Over a dozen years she has supported people through job and career changes, retirement adjustments, and shifting family roles. That experience informs how she helps set achievable goals and track progress. Lesley also addresses blended family issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and problems tied to family of origin or past hurts.
Sessions include practice in setting limits, building positive communication, and planning step-by-step changes. She helps people measure small wins so progress feels real. The work is goal oriented and focused on what the person wants to change next.
Lesley sees the work as collaborative goal setting and skill building. People who want a practical approach to reduce distress and move forward often find this format helpful.
How her approaches work for online sessions
Lesley uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in ways that translate well to remote work. CBT helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and try small behavior experiments; it is often used for anxiety, panic, and depression. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on practical steps and short-term goals, helping people notice what works and build on it.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Lesley will collaborate with clients to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. This means checking what feels useful, adjusting strategies, and setting clear steps for the next sessions.
Confirm the session formats before booking so you know how meetings are arranged. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example, shorter check-ins can be scheduled during a lunch break, or video sessions may let someone join without traveling. Talk with Lesley about how to shape sessions to practical needs like timing, length, and what to focus on each week.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and family concerns, ADHD, and related issues such as body image and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is practical and goal oriented, focusing on coping skills, boundary setting, and short term steps clients can take between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 12 years of clinical experience working with people through life transitions, grief, anxiety, trauma, and addictive behaviors.
What credentials and region apply?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; specific pricing depends on the chosen plan.
What should I do to start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.