Let’s get you the care you deserve.
Training and Credentials:
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and hold specialized certifications that inform my work:
⭐ Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
⭐ Certified Grief-Informed Professional (CGP)
I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and am deeply committed to ongoing learning and practicing with cultural humility, respect, and compassion.
Transforming mental healthcare
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, anxious, or worn down by your past… you’re not alone. So many of us carry experiences that shaped how we move through the world, sometimes leaving us feeling guarded, disconnected, on edge, or unsure of ourselves.
Therapy is a place where you don’t have to hold it all together. A place where your story is welcomed, gently, at your pace — with compassion and curiosity rather than judgment.
My name is Leslie Gayk, M.A., LPC, and I help adults heal from trauma, anxiety, grief, and relational wounds so they can feel more grounded, connected, and steady in their lives.
My Approach
I believe that our nervous system and early experiences shape the way we relate, cope, and respond — often outside of conscious awareness. So instead of focusing only on “changing thoughts,” I help you understand what your body and brain have been trying to protect you from… and how to create new experiences of safety.
Our work together is:
✨ Trauma-informed — we move gently, collaboratively, and never force disclosure
✨ Compassion-based — your story deserves care, not self-criticism
✨ Paced and respectful — you are always in control of your process
✨ Whole-person focused — honoring mind, body, relationships, and identity
✨ Skills-informed — incorporating DBT-influenced emotional regulation and grounding tools when helpful
My goal is to create a space that feels steady, calming, and deeply human — even though we’re meeting online. You don’t have to perform here. You don’t have to be perfect. You get to arrive exactly as you are.
Who I work with
I work with adults in Texas who are navigating:
✔ Trauma — both childhood and adult experiences
✔ Anxiety, overwhelm, and stress
✔ Grief and loss
✔ Relationship distress or patterns that keep repeating
✔ Emotional disconnection or loneliness
✔ Burnout and compassion fatigue
Many of my clients are high-functioning, capable people who appear “put together” on the outside — but internally feel exhausted, anxious, or frozen. Therapy becomes a place where they can finally exhale.
What therapy with me feels like…
Clients often tell me they feel seen, safe, and unhurried.
You can expect:
💬 collaborative conversation
🧠 education about the nervous system and trauma response
🌱 gentle exploration at your pace
🧩 coping and grounding skills you can use between sessions
You don’t have to retraumatize yourself to heal. We move slow, steady, and grounded — honoring what your system can tolerate while still creating meaningful change.