Leslie Hagedorn, LCSW

Leslie Hagedorn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with ten years of experience in mental health settings. She practices from Indiana and brings a background in both clinical care and academic training. Leslie focuses on helping people manage symptoms and make practical changes in day-to-day life.

She works with people facing addictions, mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, and relationship or family stress. Parents and people navigating life transitions will find direct, skill-based support. She also addresses issues such as ADHD, anger, low self-esteem, and career concerns.

Leslie uses a mix of approaches, including cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and client-centered methods that prioritize each person’s pace. She also draws on existential ideas about meaning and EMDR for trauma processing when appropriate. Sessions aim to be straightforward, goal-focused, and respectful of each person’s story.

In the room, Leslie helps clients set concrete goals and practices new skills together. She emphasizes clear steps for coping with panic, mood shifts, cravings, and relationship conflict. Progress is tracked with practical tasks you can use between sessions.

Her prior work includes assessment and care for people with complex trauma, co-occurring substance use, and related problems. That experience shapes her approach to safety, relapse prevention, and working through difficult memories. Leslie offers session options that fit busy lives and varied needs.

How Leslie uses therapy approaches online

Leslie often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical behavior changes; it is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood regulation. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which centers the session on the client’s experience and priorities so people set goals at their own pace. When trauma is a central issue, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can be part of work to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and their effects.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. Leslie will talk through your goals, preferences, and past experiences and then suggest methods that match what you want to change. Together you can try strategies, reflect on what helps, and shift direction when something isn’t working.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video works well for therapy that benefits from face-to-face interaction. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a session needs to fit into a short break. Live chat and messaging allow shorter check-ins or notes between sessions. These options make it simpler to keep continuity of care and practice skills when life is busy.