Listy Lehman

My path to becoming a therapist began in education. As a school teacher and school counselor, I quickly realized that what drew me most to my work wasn’t simply helping students succeed academically—it was understanding the person behind the student. I found myself wanting to know what was happening beneath the behavior, what challenges they were carrying outside of school, and how their relationships, families, and experiences were shaping the way they saw themselves and the world. That desire to understand people more deeply ultimately led me to therapy. I wanted the opportunity to sit with people beyond the surface of what they were struggling with—to hear their stories, help them make sense of their experiences, and walk alongside them as they created meaningful change. My background in education continues to shape the therapist I am today, especially in my work with adolescents and families. It taught me to see the whole person, to remain curious about what may be underneath a behavior, and to recognize that sometimes the person who appears to be struggling the most simply needs someone willing to slow down, listen, and truly see them.

I work best with adolescents, women, men, and families who may look like they are holding everything together on the outside but feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of themselves on the inside. Many of my clients are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, relationship or family challenges, major life transitions, or simply the feeling that something in their life needs to change. I especially enjoy working with people who are trying to figure out who they are while managing the pressures of family, friendships, school, relationships, and growing up. I also connect deeply with women who have spent so much time taking care of everyone else that they have lost sight of themselves somewhere along the way. My clients don't need to come to therapy knowing exactly what they need. I work well with people who are willing to be curious about themselves—even if they aren't quite ready for change yet. I bring warmth, humor, honesty, and compassion into the room, and I am comfortable having the difficult conversations when they matter. Ultimately, I work best with people who want more than simply feeling better in the moment. They want to understand themselves, break patterns that are no longer serving them, build healthier relationships, and begin creating a life that feels more like their own.

I wish every client knew that you don’t have to have it all figured out before you come to therapy. You don’t need to know exactly what’s wrong, have the right words to explain how you feel, or even know what you want to change. You just have to be willing to show up as you are. Therapy isn’t about being judged, “fixed,” or told how to live your life. It’s a place where you can be honest—even about the messy, uncomfortable, or contradictory parts of yourself—and know that you don’t have to navigate them alone. Some of the most meaningful work begins with simply saying, “I don’t know, but I know I don’t want to keep feeling this way.” You don’t have to know where you’re going when you walk through the door. We can figure that out together.

Your first session with me is really about getting to know each other. I want to understand what brought you to therapy, what has been happening in your life, and what you hope might be different—but I also want you to have the opportunity to get a feel for me and decide whether I am someone you can see yourself talking to and trusting. You can expect me to ask questions, listen closely, and probably bring some warmth and humor into the room. We may talk about your relationships, family, history, current challenges, and the things that are going well, too. You are always in control of what you choose to share, and there is no expectation that you tell me your entire life story in the first hour. Most importantly, you don't need to prepare for therapy or arrive knowing exactly what you want to work on. There is no perfect way to do a first session. Come as you are, and we will start wherever you are. By the end of our time together, my hope is that you feel a little more understood, a little less alone in whatever brought you in, and have a sense of how we can move forward together.

My practice is informed not only by my clinical training, but also by the many different roles and seasons I have experienced throughout my own life. I have been an educator, counselor, therapist, business owner, leader, and mother, and each of those experiences has shaped the way I understand people and the complexities they carry with them. My own life has taught me that growth is rarely a straight line. People change, relationships change, priorities shift, and sometimes life looks very different from what we once imagined it would. I understand what it means to navigate transitions, balance competing responsibilities, reinvent yourself, and discover that a new chapter can begin at any stage of life. These experiences have also taught me that people are much more than the hardest thing they have been through or the choices they have made. I bring that perspective into the therapy room. I don't expect perfection, and I don't believe meaningful change comes from judgment. I believe it comes from honesty, connection, curiosity, accountability, and having a safe place to understand yourself more fully. Perhaps most importantly, my life experience allows me to bring my whole, authentic self into my work. I understand that real life can be complicated, messy, funny, painful, and beautiful—sometimes all at once. That perspective helps me meet my clients not simply as a clinician, but as another human being who understands that finding your way forward sometimes means being willing to write a completely new chapter.

I believe therapy should be as individual as the person sitting in front of me. I start by getting to know you—not just your symptoms or the reason you came to therapy, but your story, relationships, strengths, values, experiences, and what you want your life to look like. From there, I tailor our work to what you need. For some clients, that means learning practical tools and coping strategies to manage anxiety, depression, or overwhelming emotions. For others, it means slowing down and exploring past experiences, relationship patterns, trauma, or the beliefs that may be keeping them stuck. I draw from evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, while remaining flexible in how we use them. I also pay attention to where you are in the process of change. Sometimes you are ready to take action, and sometimes you simply need a safe place to understand what you are feeling before you know what comes next. Both are valuable parts of therapy. Most importantly, I view therapy as a collaboration. I will bring my clinical experience, honesty, curiosity, and perspective, but you are the expert on your own life. Together, we will continually evaluate what is helping, what isn't, and what you need from me so that therapy remains meaningful, relevant, and uniquely yours.