Lesley Schwam
Problem-solving therapy for life transitions
LMFT California
- Experience
- 12 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Lesley
Lesley Schwam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 12 years of practice based in California who centers therapy on practical, skills-based methods.
Background and approach
She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy to help people identify unhelpful patterns, build coping skills, and move toward clear, achievable goals. Her work addresses a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and family challenges, intimacy-related issues, anger, career transitions, and ADHD.
Additional focus areas include blended family dynamics, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, commitment and communication problems, and difficulties related to divorce, substance use, guilt, and shame. In early sessions she emphasizes self-care, coping strategies, boundary setting, and positive communication while collaborating with clients to establish short- and long-term targets.
Lesley helps clients translate insights into concrete behavioral changes so they can progress toward the life adjustments they seek. Her approach is pragmatic, goal-oriented, and geared toward helping people find workable solutions for the next steps in their lives.
Practical Approaches for Online Change
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so clients can reduce symptoms like anxiety or depression and develop coping strategies for everyday challenges. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on setting clear, achievable goals and discovering immediate steps that move a person toward their preferred future, which can be helpful for life transitions and problem solving.
Finding the right approach is collaborative; the therapist will work with clients to clarify goals, preferences, and what feels most useful in the moment. Together they explore which methods best match the client’s priorities and adapt the plan over time as progress and needs evolve.
Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. This range of formats allows people to fit therapy into busy schedules, continue work while managing life changes, and choose the communication style they find most comfortable while working toward practical, measurable goals.
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Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Licensed
California
Languages
English