L.A.'s Wellness Solutions
| "...because yourwellbeingmatters! |
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"Change...It's one of Life's Only Constants!" This is a favorite saying of
mine because life is about change! Some you anticipate and choose.
Others are unexpected. Some you knowingly or even unknowingly resist.
The better able you are at negotiating and coping with change, the better
you feel. Realize the passage of time is change. Each moment is new and
different from the last. Are you living each new moment the way you want
or does something not feel quite right?
People of all ages in certain life stages or circumstances including work,
school or family transitions, illness, trauma and situations of loss or grief,
stress or anxiety may benefit from the support of counseling,
psychotherapy or biofeedback services. Your Health Care Professional,
Case Manager, Employer, Family or a Friend may have referred for
support in your situation. You may be seeking services on your own.
So you're thinking about psychotherapy, counseling or
biofeedback.... Whether you found this site on your own or were
referred by someone, I've designed it to tell you about myself, what I offer
and help you understand how therapy works. This information may help
you gain confidence in your decision to meet with a therapist. This might
be me. It may be someone else. Hopefully, this site will start you moving
through the process.
Therapy as "Last Resort" or like "Golf Lessons" .... Choosing
therapy is often a last resort option when you are feeling overwhelmed,
helpless or hopeless. This is a key role for counselors. If you are feeling
any of these , I hope you will soon find a therapist you are comfortable
with, who will assist you in moving through this tough spot in your life.
But what do golf lessons have to do with therapy!? When you want to
learn a new skill or improve one's you have, you take lessons with a pro.
From skiing to SCUBA or piano to cooking, lessons improve your skills,
performance and confidence. Think of counseling as lessons in life
management. You gain new skills and knowledge from mood to stress
management or parenting to relationships. Therapy is a preventative
approach giving you the skills, performance and confidence to
successfully meet daily life changes.
This is a favorite saying of mine because life is about change! Some you
anticipate and choose. Others are unexpected. Some you knowingly or
even unknowingly resist. The better able you are at negotiating and
coping with change, the better you feel. Realize the passage of time is
change. Each moment is new and different from the last. Are you living
each new moment the way you want or does something not feel quite
right?
People of all ages in certain life stages or circumstances including work,
school or family transitions, illness, trauma and situations of loss or grief,
stress or anxiety may benefit from the support of counseling,
psychotherapy or biofeedback services. Your Health Care Professional,
Case Manager, Employer, Family or a Friend may have referred for
support in your situation. You may be seeking services on your own.
Meet Your Counselor...
Leslie Ann Shields, M.S., L.P.C.
Leslie Ann is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas
(#18846) licensed through the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Professional Counselors.
Her undergraduate training complimented and sparked her interest in
psychology, health and wellbeing, effective communication and
neurological/developmental issues. Her B.A. is from Trinity University in
San Antonio, Texas with a double major in Communications and Health &
Physical Education. She earned her M.S. in Counseling Psychology
from Our Lady of The Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, which is a
Marriage and Family Therapy and Systems based training program. She
was a Graduate Assistant in the Federal Grant Program of Early
Childhood Education and Counseling for Violence Intervention and
Prevention.
Her early clinical experiences were with children experiencing motor and
learning delays, special needs children and family therapy, plus as a
Family Assistance Crisis Team Counselor in conjunction with the S.A., TX
Police Dept. Her post-graduate internship and recent experiences include
behavioral lifestyle counseling with adults, geriatric counseling and
counseling of traumatic brain injury survivors and their families and
psychoeducation/counseling with biofeedback training focusing on pain
and stress management. Additionally, Leslie Ann has worked with adult
inpatient psychiatric facilities.
Prior to her counseling career, Leslie Ann worked a fulfilling 12 years in
the business/corporate world of medical/ dental implantable devices and
surgical supplies for Fortune 100 & 500 companies. She also worked for a
NIDA/DOT certified Drug Testing Lab involved in corporate drug and
alcohol prevention and intervention programs.
Leslie Ann now provides counseling and psychotherapy services for all
ages through individual, couples, family and small group therapy. Special
populations include rehabilitation, MHMR, brain injury, ADHD, and chronic
pain.
Client issues she focuses on are anxiety, depression, self-esteem,
grief/loss, adjustment to life stressors, relationship and family concerns.
She provides psychoeducation in pain, stress and anger management
and has actively added biofeedback training in her practice since 2003
complementing her counseling services.
Counseling & Psychotherapy for Individuals,
Couples, Families & Groups:
If you or a family member are experiencing any social, emotional, mental
or behavioral difficulties preventing you/them from enjoying life or
interfering with your/their realizing one's full potential in personal, work or
school functioning, consider this therapy.
We will develop a safe, therapeutic relationship using mental health and
human development principles and strategies to create changes in mood,
attitudes, behaviors, thoughts and feelings resulting in improved
functioning that positively impacts your quality of life.
My counseling approaches include interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral and
brief/solution-focused therapies from a biopsychosocial and
systems-based focus. This means I like to take into account the multiple
aspects of your life including behaviors, mood, physiology,
imagery/thoughts, interpersonal and medical issues finding a treatment
plan that "fits" best for you.
Since therapy is based on a therapeutic relationship, we will work
together as a team. We'll design your treatment goals and action plans
from various strategies and continuously evaluate our therapeutic process
together. I rely on your honest feedback to determine which approaches
are working. We'll adjust as necessary finding what works till you achieve
your desired outcomes.
Remember therapy involves sharing personal, sensitive and private
information, which I understand can be distressing. Sometimes therapy
can cause anxiety, confusion or make things seem worse within yourself or
situation before they start feeling better. So, again, I count on your honest
feedback about your response to how therapy is working for you. If it's
moving too fast, too slow or you begin to question our "fit," we'll work
together to adjust and find what works. Otherwise, I'll help you find another
therapist more suited to your needs.
Counseling & Psychotherapy is about you impacting your quality of life,
happiness and success in the things that matter most to you. I look
forward to supporting you creating and living your life by your own design.
Biofeedback/Relaxation Training:
WHEN IS IT USEFUL: The National Institute for Health and National
Institute for Mental Health has found biofeedback beneficial for the
following problems: chronic pain, insomnia, migraine and tension
headaches, digestive system disorders, high blood pressure and certain
other cardiovascular, circulatory or nervous system disorders.
Biofeedback is a powerful tool and when used appropriately in
combination with other tools like relaxation training, cognitive-behavioral
therapy or interpersonal skills training, it can aid you in managing the
symptoms of disease states or improve your physiological response to
stress/emotions.
WHAT IS BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING: Biofeedback is a method of learning
used as "a treatment technique in which you are trained to improve your
own health by using signals from your body" according to the National
Institute for Mental Health. It allows you to self-regulate certain internal
bodily processes that normally occur involuntarily, such as heart rate or
blood pressure. Leslie Ann's biofeedback training room provides you
software tools during your session allowing you to monitor your internal
physiological activities. Non-invasive electrodes or sensors are placed on
the skin that convert your body's physiological signals to meaningful
feedback you and Leslie Ann see on a monitor. She then "coaches" you in
processing the information. Your brain can then integrate this information
with your thoughts, feelings, and new self-awareness influencing and
changing future physiological responses like muscle bracing, blood vessel
constriction, heart rhythm and nervous system arousal.
WHY DOES BIOFEEDBACK or MIND/BODY MEDICINE WORK?
The goal of the mind/body technique is teaching you the ability to activate
the relaxation response and reduce the stress response within yourself.
When you are relaxed or your response to normal daily stress is more
relaxed, your levels of stress hormones in your body are reduced.
Decreased stress hormones relates positively to immune system
efficiency, meaning better health and healing capacities. Research in
general and specifically at HeartMath Institute shows that negative
emotions like hostile attitudes (anger, defensiveness), anxiety and
frustration are associated with stress hormones and disrupt healthy heart
and system functioning negatively impacting your health. Biofeedback
promotes relaxation, improves coping skills and your sense of control over
your symptoms. Learning self- regulation to control symptoms may even
lessen your need for medication. What's more biofeedback has no
damaging side effects, it's painless and fun!
mine because life is about change! Some you anticipate and choose.
Others are unexpected. Some you knowingly or even unknowingly resist.
The better able you are at negotiating and coping with change, the better
you feel. Realize the passage of time is change. Each moment is new and
different from the last. Are you living each new moment the way you want
or does something not feel quite right?
People of all ages in certain life stages or circumstances including work,
school or family transitions, illness, trauma and situations of loss or grief,
stress or anxiety may benefit from the support of counseling,
psychotherapy or biofeedback services. Your Health Care Professional,
Case Manager, Employer, Family or a Friend may have referred for
support in your situation. You may be seeking services on your own.
So you're thinking about psychotherapy, counseling or
biofeedback.... Whether you found this site on your own or were
referred by someone, I've designed it to tell you about myself, what I offer
and help you understand how therapy works. This information may help
you gain confidence in your decision to meet with a therapist. This might
be me. It may be someone else. Hopefully, this site will start you moving
through the process.
Therapy as "Last Resort" or like "Golf Lessons" .... Choosing
therapy is often a last resort option when you are feeling overwhelmed,
helpless or hopeless. This is a key role for counselors. If you are feeling
any of these , I hope you will soon find a therapist you are comfortable
with, who will assist you in moving through this tough spot in your life.
But what do golf lessons have to do with therapy!? When you want to
learn a new skill or improve one's you have, you take lessons with a pro.
From skiing to SCUBA or piano to cooking, lessons improve your skills,
performance and confidence. Think of counseling as lessons in life
management. You gain new skills and knowledge from mood to stress
management or parenting to relationships. Therapy is a preventative
approach giving you the skills, performance and confidence to
successfully meet daily life changes.
This is a favorite saying of mine because life is about change! Some you
anticipate and choose. Others are unexpected. Some you knowingly or
even unknowingly resist. The better able you are at negotiating and
coping with change, the better you feel. Realize the passage of time is
change. Each moment is new and different from the last. Are you living
each new moment the way you want or does something not feel quite
right?
People of all ages in certain life stages or circumstances including work,
school or family transitions, illness, trauma and situations of loss or grief,
stress or anxiety may benefit from the support of counseling,
psychotherapy or biofeedback services. Your Health Care Professional,
Case Manager, Employer, Family or a Friend may have referred for
support in your situation. You may be seeking services on your own.
Meet Your Counselor...
Leslie Ann Shields, M.S., L.P.C.
Leslie Ann is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas
(#18846) licensed through the Texas State Board of Examiners of
Professional Counselors.
Her undergraduate training complimented and sparked her interest in
psychology, health and wellbeing, effective communication and
neurological/developmental issues. Her B.A. is from Trinity University in
San Antonio, Texas with a double major in Communications and Health &
Physical Education. She earned her M.S. in Counseling Psychology
from Our Lady of The Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, which is a
Marriage and Family Therapy and Systems based training program. She
was a Graduate Assistant in the Federal Grant Program of Early
Childhood Education and Counseling for Violence Intervention and
Prevention.
Her early clinical experiences were with children experiencing motor and
learning delays, special needs children and family therapy, plus as a
Family Assistance Crisis Team Counselor in conjunction with the S.A., TX
Police Dept. Her post-graduate internship and recent experiences include
behavioral lifestyle counseling with adults, geriatric counseling and
counseling of traumatic brain injury survivors and their families and
psychoeducation/counseling with biofeedback training focusing on pain
and stress management. Additionally, Leslie Ann has worked with adult
inpatient psychiatric facilities.
Prior to her counseling career, Leslie Ann worked a fulfilling 12 years in
the business/corporate world of medical/ dental implantable devices and
surgical supplies for Fortune 100 & 500 companies. She also worked for a
NIDA/DOT certified Drug Testing Lab involved in corporate drug and
alcohol prevention and intervention programs.
Leslie Ann now provides counseling and psychotherapy services for all
ages through individual, couples, family and small group therapy. Special
populations include rehabilitation, MHMR, brain injury, ADHD, and chronic
pain.
Client issues she focuses on are anxiety, depression, self-esteem,
grief/loss, adjustment to life stressors, relationship and family concerns.
She provides psychoeducation in pain, stress and anger management
and has actively added biofeedback training in her practice since 2003
complementing her counseling services.
Counseling & Psychotherapy for Individuals,
Couples, Families & Groups:
If you or a family member are experiencing any social, emotional, mental
or behavioral difficulties preventing you/them from enjoying life or
interfering with your/their realizing one's full potential in personal, work or
school functioning, consider this therapy.
We will develop a safe, therapeutic relationship using mental health and
human development principles and strategies to create changes in mood,
attitudes, behaviors, thoughts and feelings resulting in improved
functioning that positively impacts your quality of life.
My counseling approaches include interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral and
brief/solution-focused therapies from a biopsychosocial and
systems-based focus. This means I like to take into account the multiple
aspects of your life including behaviors, mood, physiology,
imagery/thoughts, interpersonal and medical issues finding a treatment
plan that "fits" best for you.
Since therapy is based on a therapeutic relationship, we will work
together as a team. We'll design your treatment goals and action plans
from various strategies and continuously evaluate our therapeutic process
together. I rely on your honest feedback to determine which approaches
are working. We'll adjust as necessary finding what works till you achieve
your desired outcomes.
Remember therapy involves sharing personal, sensitive and private
information, which I understand can be distressing. Sometimes therapy
can cause anxiety, confusion or make things seem worse within yourself or
situation before they start feeling better. So, again, I count on your honest
feedback about your response to how therapy is working for you. If it's
moving too fast, too slow or you begin to question our "fit," we'll work
together to adjust and find what works. Otherwise, I'll help you find another
therapist more suited to your needs.
Counseling & Psychotherapy is about you impacting your quality of life,
happiness and success in the things that matter most to you. I look
forward to supporting you creating and living your life by your own design.
Biofeedback/Relaxation Training:
WHEN IS IT USEFUL: The National Institute for Health and National
Institute for Mental Health has found biofeedback beneficial for the
following problems: chronic pain, insomnia, migraine and tension
headaches, digestive system disorders, high blood pressure and certain
other cardiovascular, circulatory or nervous system disorders.
Biofeedback is a powerful tool and when used appropriately in
combination with other tools like relaxation training, cognitive-behavioral
therapy or interpersonal skills training, it can aid you in managing the
symptoms of disease states or improve your physiological response to
stress/emotions.
WHAT IS BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING: Biofeedback is a method of learning
used as "a treatment technique in which you are trained to improve your
own health by using signals from your body" according to the National
Institute for Mental Health. It allows you to self-regulate certain internal
bodily processes that normally occur involuntarily, such as heart rate or
blood pressure. Leslie Ann's biofeedback training room provides you
software tools during your session allowing you to monitor your internal
physiological activities. Non-invasive electrodes or sensors are placed on
the skin that convert your body's physiological signals to meaningful
feedback you and Leslie Ann see on a monitor. She then "coaches" you in
processing the information. Your brain can then integrate this information
with your thoughts, feelings, and new self-awareness influencing and
changing future physiological responses like muscle bracing, blood vessel
constriction, heart rhythm and nervous system arousal.
WHY DOES BIOFEEDBACK or MIND/BODY MEDICINE WORK?
The goal of the mind/body technique is teaching you the ability to activate
the relaxation response and reduce the stress response within yourself.
When you are relaxed or your response to normal daily stress is more
relaxed, your levels of stress hormones in your body are reduced.
Decreased stress hormones relates positively to immune system
efficiency, meaning better health and healing capacities. Research in
general and specifically at HeartMath Institute shows that negative
emotions like hostile attitudes (anger, defensiveness), anxiety and
frustration are associated with stress hormones and disrupt healthy heart
and system functioning negatively impacting your health. Biofeedback
promotes relaxation, improves coping skills and your sense of control over
your symptoms. Learning self- regulation to control symptoms may even
lessen your need for medication. What's more biofeedback has no
damaging side effects, it's painless and fun!
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