Works with
How Lesley works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Years in practice
- 12
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Lesley
Lesley Schwam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California with 12 years of clinical experience. She uses practical, goal-oriented methods to help people manage strong emotions and move forward in daily life. Lesley draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to make sessions straightforward and actionable.
She helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, try small behavior changes, and build coping skills that fit their routine. Her work covers common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and anger.
Background and approach
She also supports people facing trauma, addictions, relationship or intimacy-related difficulties, and life transitions like changing careers or adjusting to new roles. Early sessions focus on learning simple self-care and coping techniques. She helps set realistic short- and long-term goals, practice boundary-setting, and improve communication skills.
Many clients begin with one or two concrete skills to try between meetings. Lesley also addresses related issues like caregiver stress, chronic pain or illness, family of origin concerns, body image, and feelings of guilt or shame. Her approach aims to give people tools they can use outside sessions so progress feels real and practical.
What Lesley works with
Everything Lesley lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Lesley's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Lesley lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Practical approaches for online therapy and change
Lesley uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. CBT breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions, and is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and coping with life changes.She also applies Solution-Focused Therapy, which centers on identifying clear goals and small steps toward them. This method is short-term and action-oriented, helping people pick a few changes that can make daily life easier.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Lesley will discuss goals and preferences, and she will tailor methods to what the person needs and wants. That collaboration helps make sessions feel practical and focused on real-life progress.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules. Video is useful for deeper conversation and visual cues, phone can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited, and messaging allows brief check-ins or reflections between appointments. These formats make therapy more flexible for people balancing work, caregiving, and other commitments.
Questions people ask about Lesley
What kinds of problems does Lesley help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and anger, among other concerns like addictions and relationship or intimacy-related issues.
What is her style of therapy?
Lesley uses a practical, goal-oriented style. Sessions focus on identifying thoughts and behaviors to change and trying small, useful strategies between meetings.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 12 years of clinical experience working with a range of emotional and life transition issues.
Where is Lesley licensed and located?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed in California and practices with that credential.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.