- Inpatient experience
- Disaster response work
- Group and individual therapy
About Lesley
Lesley Gustafson is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 39 years of experience. She has extensive work in inpatient psychiatric settings and with disaster mental health through the Red Cross. Lesley focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, anger, and coping with life changes.
Her practice includes both individual and group therapy. She draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people manage intense feelings and daily stressors. Sessions emphasize practical skills, education, and steady support rather than quick fixes.
Lesley has spent many years supporting people in hospital settings, giving her experience with severe and complex conditions. She also responded to community needs after disasters with the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team. That background shapes how she works with crisis and recovery situations.
She often helps people who are dealing with long-term health problems, and she has a particular interest in working with women and older adults. Lesley aims to combine straightforward guidance with tools clients can use between sessions.
Therapy with her typically starts by identifying immediate concerns and what the person hopes to change. From there she offers education, coping strategies, and paced steps to reduce reactivity, manage mood swings, and respond to stressful events. Her approach is practical and steady, focused on helping people regain control over daily life.
How evidence-based methods translate to online care
Many of Lesley Gustafson's approaches are evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on teaching concrete skills and addressing symptoms directly. One common method used in evidence-based care is skills training that teaches breathing, grounding, and emotional regulation strategies to reduce reactivity and manage anger and anxiety. These techniques are practical and can be practiced between sessions to help with day-to-day triggers.Another typical approach involves structured problem-solving and mood management strategies. This includes breaking problems into smaller steps, tracking patterns in mood or behavior, and testing small changes to see what helps. That work is useful for depression, bipolar mood swings, and coping with life changes.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to identify goals, try specific techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. Clients and the therapist decide together which methods feel most helpful for managing anger and related concerns.
The original biography did not specify online session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit treatment into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow brief check-ins when needed. Some formats may be better for shorter strategy sessions, while others suit longer therapy work; ask about the available options when you schedule.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
39+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, anger, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques, focusing on practical skills, education, and steady support in individual and group settings.
How much experience does she have?
Lesley has 39 years of clinical experience, including work in inpatient psychiatric settings and disaster mental health response.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an M.A. and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing from Massachusetts.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and getting started handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.