Hello!

I’m Leah and I’m grateful you’re here!

I am a holistic/integrative therapist who believes in meeting you where you’re at and developing an individualized approach that honors your own intuitive healing process. I believe the healing power of nature and re-grounding ourselves in our senses and surroundings can help recalibrate the mind, body and emotions to bring out our best selves.  I utilize a client-centered, non-judgmental approach to help you draw upon these innate strengths and empower you to make positive changes in your lives.

Although a native Californian, I’ve been fortunate to have had an adventurous journey to return to Southern California after obtaining my bachelors at University of Wisconsin- Madison and spending a number of years working in the outdoor, educational and adventure industries. From ski race coaching in Lake Tahoe, to leading backing trips through our national parks, to facilitating adaptive sports instruction in Breckenridge, Colorado and Park City, Utah, I returned to CA to complete my Masters in Social Work at San Diego State University and have since worked in various medical clinics, school based locations, and intensive outpatient programs.

My background of adventure therapy and certification of yoga instruction from Rishikesh, India complements my work with mindfulness, physical self care and developing a healthy relationship to self that is integrated into my sessions. I have experience with individual, group and family counseling of diverse populations of individuals and diagnoses and currently assist individuals navigating anxiety, depression, body image issues and life transitions.

Using a strengths-based focus and trauma-informed mindset, my therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based modalities from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Outside of time in the therapy world, I seek to practice as I preach with my own physical, mental and grounding practices. Typically on my yoga mat, bicycle or beach with my mini Aussie, I seek to stay grounded and present and invest in my own therapy, journal and continue my growth as a human and therapist by deepening my self awareness.

My practice is soon expanding to offer psychedelic assisted psychotherapy with holistic wellness group work in the coming year.

OR

Hi, I'm Leah — and I'm so glad you found your way here.

I created Adventure Within Therapy because I believe that the journey inward is one of the most meaningful adventures a person can take. And I know firsthand that it isn't always a straight path.

The Story Behind the Name

Why "Adventure Within"?

Before I became a therapist, I lived a life shaped by movement, nature, and seeking.

I grew up in California, then left to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating, I spent years working in the outdoor, educational, and adventure industries — coaching ski racers in Lake Tahoe, leading backpacking trips through our national parks, and facilitating adaptive sports programs in Breckenridge, Colorado and Park City, Utah.

Those years taught me something I carry into every session: that challenge is where growth lives. That being outside your comfort zone — physically, emotionally, spiritually — is not a sign that something is wrong. It's a sign that something is becoming.

When I returned to California to complete my Masters in Social Work at San Diego State University, I brought that belief with me. The adventure I'm most passionate about now isn't on a trail. It's the one that happens when a person gets quiet enough to hear themselves think — and brave enough to act on what they find.

That's the adventure within.

How I Work

My approach to therapy

I work holistically — meaning I see you as a whole person, not a set of symptoms. Body, mind, and spirit all show up in the therapy room, and all of them deserve attention.

My sessions integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness practices, and somatic approaches — tools that help you understand not just what you're thinking, but what you're carrying in your body and how your nervous system is responding to your life.

I also hold a yoga teaching certification from Rishikesh, India, which deepens my understanding of breath, embodiment, and the connection between physical and emotional regulation.

My style is warm and direct. I'll never just sit and nod — I'll ask the questions worth sitting with, reflect what I'm genuinely noticing, and gently challenge you when you're ready to be challenged. I call it lovingly accountable — fully in your corner, and honest enough to help you grow.

Who I Work With

The people I'm most called to serve

I work with adults in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s who are navigating the gap between the life they're living and the life they want. Young professionals who look fine on the outside but feel something important is missing. People in the middle of change — a relationship ending, a career shifting, an identity expanding.

I've also worked across a wide range of settings — medical clinics, school-based programs, and intensive outpatient programs — and with diverse populations navigating anxiety, depression, body image, and major life transitions. That breadth informs how I meet each person with fresh eyes.

Outside the Therapy Room

I practice what I preach

When I'm not in session, you'll likely find me on my yoga mat, on my bicycle, or at the beach with my mini Aussie. I invest in my own therapy, maintain a journaling practice, and stay genuinely curious about my own growth — because I think the best therapists are the ones who are still doing their own work.

I also have an exciting expansion on the horizon: psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and holistic wellness group work, coming in the near future. If that's something you're curious about, I'd love to talk.

Ready to take the first step?

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Most people don't. You just need to be a little ready — and willing to begin.

I respond to every inquiry promptly and personally. There's no automated system here, just me.