It’s nice to meet you!
Hey there, I’m Leslie and I’m passionate about helping others identify and harness their strengths, hone their skills, and empower them to live life more fully. I am a dedicated advocate, trusted confidant, and empowering, straight-talking clinician. I walk alongside my clients as they navigate the transition to parenthood and their parenting journeys, process and move through their grief, loss, and trauma, discover themselves, and learn to embrace the messy, chaotic, beautiful, and quiet.
Leslie Bradley, MA, LCSW, PMH-C
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified in Perinatal Mental Health
Licensed in Illinois, Colorado, and Michigan
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
Are you feeling stuck in some aspect of your life, wanting to live more authentically, or just needing a safe space to offload your stress? I’ve got you!
Through both my lived and professional experiences, I have developed a deep respect and tremendous passion for helping parents at all stages of their parenthood journeys. My experience during and after my first pregnancy overwhelmed, devastated, humbled, challenged, inspired, and surprised me. I thought I knew what I was signing up for; I took all the classes, picked my friends’ brains, scoured the internet, and bought “the latest and greatest” for my little one. And then my son was born and the whole world tilted on its axis and began spinning backwards! He made me feel tremendous joy and utter ineptitude. I cried, I prayed, I stared at his sweet little face and sobbed because I didn’t know how we were going to make it. I was in the depths of postpartum depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, fearful and overwhelmed at virtually every moment. I felt alone, even though I was surrounded by people begging to help.
You don't have to continue to live in that darkness. Together, we can help you heal, help you learn, help you thrive.
My parenthood journey, including all the highs and lows, has helped me recognize just how complex, joyous, and heart-wrenching it can be to raise children. Throughout my journey, I’ve had the support of many amazing friends, colleagues, and professionals to help me navigate, course-correct, and learn so many things that I am passionate about sharing with others in the hopes that it makes your journey a little lighter. I am a perinatal mental health disorder survivor, a loss mom, a fellow parent just trying to raise good humans and infuse joy (and realism!) into parenting experience and expectations.
I firmly believe in being authentic at all times. This means I bring my whole self to the therapeutic relationship. I share your pain, your accomplishments, your challenges, your hopes, and your dreams. You don’t have to walk this path alone; I’m right here beside you!
I believe in being genuine and ask the same from you. I’m someone who tells it like it is and supports you through the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ll give you tissues. I’ll laugh loudly, curse, and wear comfy pants. If you’re easily offended, I’m probably not the right therapist for you. I am passionate, relentless in the pursuit of improvement, and dedicated to supporting you every step of the way!
I incorporate a variety of therapeutic approaches into my work, uniquely tailoring my style to the needs of each client. I typically draw from client-centered, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), self-compassion, mindfulness, narrative, trauma-informed, and HAES-aligned strategies. I have specialized training in infant and child loss, including termination for medical reasons.
I believe that “the most beautiful people in the world are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths” (Elizabeth Kübler Ross). That’s why I hope you take the next step in your healing and book a session today. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Start your healing journey, today.