Leslie provides a pleasant environment (comfy leather lounges, espresso coffee, nice view) to listen to what's going on in your relationship and identify the issues you want to discuss. Feel free to be emotional and get things off your chest, just keep it respectful and allow each other their turn to speak. It is very common for two people to have vastly different recollections or assessments of the same situations or events - and that's OK. This is often a good place to start.
This is the part where you and Leslie work together to come up with ways to make things better. Leslie isn't your "talking to a brick wall" type of counsellor. She'll happily offer advice from her decades of counselling experience - if that's what you want. However, the best results are usually achieved when clients say things like: "I'll do that for you, because I respect you and I value our relationship" - and really mean it - and prioritise keeping their promises to each other.
Bad patterns can creep into relationships over time, often without the people involved really noticing. Don't let anyone tell you these choices - and they are choices - can't be undone. Where there's a will there's a way. Leslie is a strong advocate for honesty, personal responsibility and being true to your word. Some clients need a number of follow up sessions to work through all the issues at hand - and that's OK. As soon as the bad patterns in your relationship are a thing of the past - and good patterns have replaced them - you're heading in the right direction.
"A very knowledgeable counsellor who has had such a positive impact on myself. Leslie has always gone above and beyond to help with any issue I’ve had.
She is not only a great counsellor but a great person as well who genuinely cares for her patients. Highly recommended."
"Leslie has a lot of knowledge. We had such an amazing experience with her and left feel positive, supported and with a lot of clarity. I have not experienced such a beneficial session as I did with Leslie.
My partner was sceptical at first but he left feeling amazing and now is confident to see her again whenever we need to. She always caters to our needs no matter the time it takes and she is always available which is not traditional in my experience anywhere else. We appreciate her support, Thankyou Leslie.
I'm sure anyone that sees her will have the same experience as us."
"It is fair to say that Leslie played an incredibly important role in helping to mend my relationship at a time when my world was upside down. My partner and I were together but lost, and we desperately needed a guiding hand, which Leslie very capably provided.
A key effort I believe was crucial during this time was that Leslie remained pro-relationship, never taking sides, and yet was still able to speak to us and empathise with us individually. And from there, was able to help and guide us both to a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other.
My partner has typically been very closed-off to situations that include self reflection, such as counselling. And very much held a stereotypical opinion of what this experience would look like - sitting across from a grey corporate-type, holding a clipboard and casting judgements on us in some windowless office room. However, in every session with Leslie, we are invited into her home, offered a cup of tea and a biscuit, and sit down together in a lovely open living space which overlooks the surrounding parkland. It is very peaceful and relaxing.
On paper, Leslie offers a caring and understanding space to verbalise difficult emotions, discuss grievances, acknowledge truths, and work towards happiness and positive outcomes. However, in reality she gives so much more; her empathy is genuine, her understanding is from experience, and her ability to guide is both educated and instinctive.
I think the best praise I could possibly offer, is that I have felt very comfortable to be vulnerable during these sessions with Leslie - Something that does not come naturally to me. And I know my partner felt similarly, which has been an incredibly transformative experience for her.
Whether you feel your relationship would benefit from a quick "check-in", or you feel completely lost and broken, I could not recommend a chat with Leslie highly enough. My partner and I were recently (and very happily) married."