- CBT techniques
- DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Leigh
Leigh Ann Whitus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Tennessee with six years of experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, parenting strain, trauma and abuse, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and feelings of guilt and shame. Leigh Ann also addresses issues like attachment and abandonment, caregiver burnout, grief, and problems with communication and control.
She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and brings a collaborative style to sessions. Early meetings focus on what brought someone to therapy and on shaping clear, realistic goals to guide the work. Sessions are meant to be practical and focused on what matters most to the person.
Leigh Ann uses a mix of approaches that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, and mindfulness methods. That mixture is used to address thinking patterns, emotional regulation, and coping skills. She can also include discussions of faith when Christian counseling is requested.
In sessions she helps people identify unhelpful thoughts, practice new ways of responding, and build skills for handling strong emotions. She works with themes such as forgiveness, isolation, impulsivity, and co-occurring conditions so people can manage day-to-day challenges more clearly.
Leigh Ann recognizes cultural background matters and attends to diversity in how problems show up. Early sessions set priorities and an initial plan, and ongoing meetings adjust that plan based on goals and progress.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on identifying personal values and taking action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. It can help with guilt that keeps someone stuck and with decisions that feel weighed down by fear. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and shame-related beliefs.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through your goals and preferences and recommend which methods to try first. She adjusts plans as sessions continue so the work stays relevant to current needs and priorities.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available online options before booking. When offered, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time from the schedule. Therapists often combine skill practice, brief exercises, and conversation so the work can fit into ordinary days while still focusing on guilt, shame, and daily coping.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
Tennessee
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family problems, parenting strain, ADHD, bipolar concerns, grief, and guilt and shame.
How would she approach feelings of shame or guilt?
She draws on CBT, DBT, ACT, and mindfulness to help people notice unhelpful thoughts, practice different responses, and build coping skills for intense emotions.
What experience does she have in practice?
She has six years of clinical experience working with adults on mood, trauma, attention, and family-related concerns.
Is she a licensed clinician and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Tennessee and practices there.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific session formats.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.