About Leah

Leah Shanks is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) based in Tennessee with 15 years of clinical experience. She focuses on practical, down-to-earth support for common struggles like stress, anxiety, depression, and body image concerns. Leah emphasizes clients' strengths and helps them take steady steps forward.

Leah listens first and follows the pace a person needs. Sessions focus on real-life problems such as parenting strain, grief, and changes that disrupt daily routines.

Background and approach

She helps people talk through impulses, mood shifts, panic, and living with ADHD-related challenges in attention and self-regulation. Her approach blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Leah also uses trauma-focused tools like EMDR and somatic methods when past events or physical tension are part of the problem.

Mindfulness practices are taught to build calm and present-moment awareness. Leah aims to make therapy straightforward and useful. That can mean setting small goals, practicing new ways of coping between sessions, and checking what’s actually helping.

She respects each person’s story and collaborates on plans that fit daily life. Leah works with a wide range of concerns including eating and food-related issues, self-harm thoughts, relationship stresses, compassion fatigue, pregnancy and childbirth related stress, and panic attacks. Sessions are conducted in English for people located in Tennessee.

Therapeutic approaches and what online work looks like

Leah commonly uses client-centered approaches and cognitive behavioral techniques. Client-centered work means the therapist follows the client's lead, listens closely, and helps build on the person's own strengths and goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on noticing unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, panic, and mood symptoms.

She also uses EMDR when trauma memories are blocking progress. EMDR involves guided eye movements or similar bilateral stimulation while recalling difficult memories to reduce their emotional charge. This can help with post-traumatic stress, panic, and symptoms tied to past abuse when incorporated into a paced treatment plan.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. Leah works with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and comfort level. She adjusts plans over time and checks in about what is helping and what to change.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer conversations, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, live chat is useful for shorter check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing, brief contact between sessions. These options make therapy flexible around work, childcare, and busy days.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Leah help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, eating and body image issues, self esteem, grief, anger, and ADHD-related challenges among other concerns.
What is her style of therapy?
Leah blends client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, somatic work, and trauma-focused approaches to address symptoms and everyday functioning.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of professional work experience supporting people through stress, trauma, mood concerns, and related issues.
What credentials and location are listed?
Leah holds the LPC-MHSP credential and practices in Tennessee.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
15 years
Licensed
Tennessee
Languages
English

We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.