My ideal client is someone who is ready to do the work to find relief from suffering, not just learn to tolerate suffering. Together, we will find clear and mutually agreed upon goals that will help you make transformations in your life and your experience.
I consider it an honor to walk with people on their life journey of self-exploration if even for only 45 minutes during one session. With support we tend to feel not so alone, and when we do not feel alone we can sometimes feel all the hope we need to move in a new direction toward healing.
I am a certified EMDR therapist as reviewed by EMDRIA, the international organization for EMDR clinicians. I am additionally an approved consultant, meaning I have achieved the highest level of training with EMDRIA and I provide training and consultation to other EMDR clinicians. https://www.emdria.org/members/?id=54223259
I have earned certification from Postpartum Support International as a certified perinatal mental health therapist. I am among the first 15 therapists in the State of Michigan to achieve this certification and among approximately 1,000 psychotherapists globally (in 2020). Seeing a therapist with this certification allows you to rest assured I understand the basics of reproductive issues as they related to mental health, and I look forward to learning more about your story.
https://www.postpartum.net/professionals/certification/
ALL are welcome here. I completed the Certificate in Clinical Concerns & Gender Identity training through NASW-MI, an advanced clinical training for working with transgender and gender non-conforming people.
I have experience treating people facing a variety of issues including,
-reproductive/perinatal spectrum of issues: mood and anxiety disorders, birth trauma and unexpected birth events, hyperemesis gravidarum, infertility and perinatal loss including terminating for anomalies/medical reasons and health of the mother/birth giver, infant death, history of or current bedrest, and NICU stay
-healthcare professionals including mental healthcare professionals/therapists
-managing the psychological aspects of tinnitus (chronic ringing in the ears)
-medical trauma, unexpected medical event, post-covid treatment trauma
-grief and loss (including divorce, job loss, pet loss, and life transitions including transitions after graduate school, and retirement)
-substance abuse and families affected by alcoholism/addiction
-trauma and PTSD of just about any form
-anxiety and panic disorder
I have experience with both children and adults, including young children and older adults. I have worked in the past in hospital/medical systems in pediatrics, NICU, mother-baby unit, dialysis, in-patient rehab, otolaryngology/audiology, and and in primary care settings. I have published two peer-review articles,
White woman with brown hair and glasses wearing a blue colored shirt and a red necklace shown from chest up again a brick background and sun shining on face.
Certificate with green shading to the left, EMDRIA logo at top, certificate text, The EMDR International Association confers the designation of EMDRIA certified therapist upon Leslie Pertz effective date September 1, 2023 expiration date August 31, 2025 designation originally granted 03/1/2019
Certificate with purple shading to the left, EMDRIA logo at top, certificate text, The EMDR International Association confers the designation of EMDRIA consultant upon Leslie Pertz effective date September 1, 2023 expiration date August 31, 2025 designation originally granted 09/15/2021
Logo of PSI an outer circle mauve colored and text Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C) written around circle, white circle, inner blue circle with text PSI and grey shape indicating an abstract person. Originally granted Dec 2020.