ABOUT
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"
-Anais Nin-
Leslie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with extensive clinical experience ranging in various ages from children, teenagers and adults. Leslie can provide support for both individual and couples seeking counseling. Leslie's clinical experience includes working within a residential facility for at-risk youth, a community mental health clinic and private practice work. This experience has allowed her to become therapeutically versatile within a wide range of populations and treatment focus. She has a particular interest in helping those struggling with life transitions, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, chronic illness, grief, spirituality and overall health and wellness.
Leslie's training was deeply rooted in person-centered therapy and other evidenced-based theories which are grounded in the basic principal that the client is the expert in themselves and the belief that each one of us has access to our own inner wisdom given the right environment to explore it . Leslie believes in the importance of creating an authentic and safe relationship for healing to flourish. She is focused on working with her clients through a holistic approach, and holds the belief that we are all a sum of all our experiences, thoughts, feelings, systems, supports and health. She believes that the mind cannot be separate from the body and utilizes interventions that helps support that connection. Leslie uses an eclectic approach to treatment from psychoeducation, skill building, cognitive behavioral strategies and strength-based interventions to deep dives into family systems, psychoanalytical approaches, dream work, art therapy and existentialism.
Leslie personally brings a dedication to the holistic model of wellness and dedication to self-care as a practitioner. She works hard to model wellness and remains committed to her own healing journey and willingness to take risks and continue to grow as a person. She is a mother, a lover of warm weather and sunshine, dance classes, cooking gluten-free and exploring alternative methods of healing such as crystals, essential oils, yoga and Reiki. She has created another business where she offers alternative healing services through Leslie's Light. Check it out at: www.leslieslight.com
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Education
State University of New York at Oswego
Masters of Science, Mental Health Counseling
State University of New York at New Paltz
Bachelors of Arts, Communication & Media
Memberships
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New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA)
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American Counseling Association
Certifications & Professional Development
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Certified Grief Counseling Specialist
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Certified Mandated Reporter
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Certified First Aide Responder
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Specialized Sexual Abuse Services trained (SSAS)
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Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) trained through partnerships with Cornell University
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Risking Connection: Transforming Your Work with Survivors of Childhood Abuse
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Co-facilitator for a graduate level course: Play Therapy I
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Calming the Brain through Mindfulness: Rewire Emotions with the Power of Neuroplasticity
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Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Certificate Course
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Better Habits, Better Health: Preventing & Managing Chronic Illness
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Forbidden Conversations: Sex, Death & Money
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Safe & Connected: A Polyvagal Guided Path for ReImagining our World
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Internal Family Systems: A step-by-step Procedures for Healing
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Psychedelics in Therapy: MDMA, Psilocybin, Ketamine, MicroDosing & More
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Usui Shiko Ryoho Method of Healing: Reiki I and II Practitioner
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LMHC-D, awarded Diagnostic Privilege as of 10/2024
Media
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In Good Health, Stressed-Out Kids:
http://www.cnyhealth.com/features/stressed-out-kids/
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Podcast Guest: Bloom Where you are Planted,Seasonal Affective Disorder:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/bloompodcaster/Ep19_BWYAP_Leslie_Hereba.mp3
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Podcast Guest: NEXT STEP Leadership: What IS Leadership?
https://youtu.be/CiqmlGpvbtU
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Podcast Guest: NEXT STEP Leadership: ALL 2002 Leader-cast Wrap-up https://youtu.be/aioY-qf1xPA?si=qhQcPTtaHEJi0Qxu
Emily received her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University and is currently working towards her hours for licensure. Emily also obtained a certificate in trauma counseling during her graduate studies. Her education placed emphasis on social justice and person-centered approaches. Since graduation, Emily has taken interest in existential and mindfulness-based approaches. Emily is passionate about working with people dealing with anxiety, OCD, panic, life transitions, and/or a history of trauma. Emily enjoys working with folks in the LGBTQ+ community and recognizes the impact of societal and cultural forces on a person's overall well being.
Emily believes that we are all capable of creating our own meaning from life's challenges. She is dedicated to honoring a person's background and culture while working with clients. Emily works to bring a sense of safety and calmness to each session that creates the space required to handle life's difficulties. She often utilizes humor and gentle-challenging in helping people achieve their goals. Emily adapts her approach to the client's needs while exploring ways to change the patterns that keep people stuck. She recognizes that where we come from impacts where we are and works with people to determine their own path forward towards their personal version of healing.
Emily believes that self-care must include being true to ourselves and engaging in activities that fuel us. For her, this includes spending time with her loved ones, making time for travel, exploring the great outdoors, reading, tending to her houseplants, and working on craft projects.
Education
Antioch University New England
Masters of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Certificate in Trauma Counseling
Bridgewater State University
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Memberships
American Counseling Association
Certifications and Professional Development
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NYS Certified Mandated Reporter
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Trauma and Self-Harm: Increase Safety with a New Approach to Cutting, Bingeing, and Addictive Behaviors Course
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Integrate CBT and Exposure & Response Prevention for Treatment of GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD, Social Anxiety, & Phobias Course
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Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems Course
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John Hopkins Psychological First Aid Course
Megan is an intern from LeMoyne College’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program. Megan believes in a person centered and holistic approach to therapy. She understands and views that when you truly believe in a person you provide them with support and hope that will ultimately aid in their betterment.
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Megan enjoys working with clients from all backgrounds and has spent a majority of her coursework time with teens and young adults. She is eager to continue working with individuals of all ages, and those seeking support with a variety of concerns including relationships, families, depression, anxiety, career and life planning, and more.
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In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband and two stepchildren, and their three golden retrievers: Allie, Cooper, and Charlie. Megan has passion for exercise and healthy eating to promote a healthy mind and body. She practices mindfulness and finds journaling a good way to reflect on happenings throughout her life.
Education
LeMoyne College
Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (in progress)
Utica University
Master of Science, MBA
Grand Canyon University
Bachelor of Science, Marketing
Memberships
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American Counseling Association
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Certifications and Professional Development
Certifications and Professional Development
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NYS Certified Mandated Reporter
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NARCAN Training
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ACE’s Training
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Diversity and Inclusion Training
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Emotional Intelligence Training
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Trauma Summit, Embrace Diversity and redefine healing with innovative applications of IFS, EMDR, EFIT, CPT, DBT and somatic therapies.
Mikayla is an intern from SUNY Oswego’s Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) program. Throughout her courses and seeing clients, she has taken an interest in cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy. She has a natural talent to analyze behavior and pair it with where it might be stemming from in an individual’s life and where to go from there. Mikayla also feels passionate about working through relationship trauma, eating disorders, and building toolkits to cope with anxiety. Over the past year, Mikayla has worked on the 988 suicide hotline as a crisis specialist. She’s gained experience working with callers of all ages that are in a wide variety of mental health crises.
Mikayla has always made it a priority to connect with others of different backgrounds in order to have a better understanding of their experiences but also acknowledges that different cultures or backgrounds can endure mental health differently. She has studied abroad in Belize and mentored youth and she served as chair of the public relations committee of the NAACP SUNY Albany chapter during her time in undergrad.
Mikayla considers therapy as a form of self care for others as it gives someone a safe space to cater to their emotional needs. She believes stepping out of your comfort zone is an opportunity for growth and practices patience and empathy with others as they maneuver through their own unique journeys of self realization and awareness.
In her free time, she enjoys exercising, spending time with her shih tzu, Minnie, and has been journaling since she was a child and uses it as a tool of self reflection while also being able to flip through physical proof of her own growth.
Education
SUNY Oswego
Masters of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (in progress)
University at Albany, SUNY
Bachelor of Art, Sociology
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Certifications and Professional Development
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NYS Certified Mandated Reporter
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Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trained (ASIST)
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Crisis Specialist Certification (CSC) by American Association of Suicidology (AAS) - in progress
Melissa is a graduate level intern from SUNY Oswego- Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) program. She got her start in case management and then transitioned to higher education advising. Throughout her career, she has worked with people to problem-solve a variety of difficult circumstances and transitions in their lives. Through that, Melissa became interested in supporting people through various mental health challenges they may be facing, which can exacerbate already difficult circumstances. Melissa has an interest in working with people who are struggling to make sense of themselves, their relationships and their place in the world through a lens of psychodynamic, existential, person-centered and a variety of other therapies.
Melissa understands the limited perspective she may have when working with people of different backgrounds and has lived a life of trying to reach out, understand, and gain knowledge of others who do not experience life the same way she does. She lived and worked with youth in Northern Ireland, studied abroad in Ghana, Costa Rica, & Ukraine as well as worked with college students from a variety of racial, religious, ethnic, & socioeconomic backgrounds. Melissa strives to bring an open and nonjudgmental approach to each client encounter.
Therapy can not only be a gift to yourself, but to others that you love and love you. Through greater self-awareness and personal growth, we can be the change we wish to see. Melissa is here to support that work and walk alongside you as you start or continue your journey.
In her free time, she enjoys being with her partner and children, listening to live music, reading, building Lego and learning new things!
Education
SUNY Oswego
Masters of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (in progress)
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Arcadia University
Master of Arts, International Peace & Conflict Resolution
Messiah University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
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Certifications and Professional Development​
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Certified Mandated Reporter
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QPR Suicide Prevention Training
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Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training
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Alternatives to Violence Project Training
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Healing & Rebuilding our Communities Training
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​Student Success in higher education training includes: Appreciative Advising, Clifton Strengths, MBTI, Career Advising, Life Design Coaching, Intercultural Development Coaching
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