Leela is an LMFT Associate and is supervised by Misti Nielsen, MA, LMFT-S. She engaged in online training to learn Emotion-Focused Therapy, one of two research supported Couple Therapy Models. She can also incorporate a biblical perspective within the therapeutic process when requested. Leela earned her Master’s of Arts degree in Marriage & Family Therapy program at Liberty University, her Bachelor of Science in Christian Counseling at Liberty University and her Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences at San Jacinto College.
Leela has found working with teens to be very rewarding. She loves connecting with her teen clients and getting to know them as an individual. Then, she joins with them to determine what their goals for their personal relationships and activities. She helps them find ways to achieve the goals with the skills the teen already possesses and building skills that are lacking or missing altogether.
Leela is a Certified facilitator for SYMBIS, which stands for Save Your Marriage Before It Starts. Over 1,000,000 couples and 100,000 pastors and counselors can’t be wrong: SYMBIS is the most widely used pre-marriage system in existence.
Leela’s goal, as a Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, is to encourage her clients and help them live their lives FULLY & COMPLETELY for Christ, if requested by the client. A part of this journey means walking alongside of her clients through the hardest trials and helping them understand the beauty of James 1:2-8. She also wants to help celebrate the most joyous times of their lives. Her ultimate goal is to glorify God through her work with her clients.
Leela is married to her amazing and wonderful husband, John, who proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for seven years. They were married in San Diego, California, where her husband was stationed at Camp Pendleton. While in San Diego they were a part of Faith Warrior Ministries, a Christian fellowship group dedicated to discipling military families and college students. They are the proud parents of one daughter.
Leela and her husband currently reside in League City and attend Clear Creek Community Church. They both volunteer with Elijah Rising, an anti-human trafficking organization based in the Houston area. They love being on the outreach team and bringing the light of Jesus in the midst of the darkness of human trafficking.
Leela looks forward to the many ways God will use her life to serve His people once she earns her degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.