What is it like to work with you?
Here is how one client described the experience:
I came to Leela hoping she would have answers—about my symptoms, what to do, when to taper, and how to navigate this journey. While she has provided invaluable insight and guidance, what she has given me goes far beyond the logistics of withdrawal and tapering.
Leela’s true gift is in helping us rewrite our stories—to see our lives through a more beautiful, expansive lens. For so long, I viewed my experiences in the medical system as a tragedy and believed myself to be inherently broken. Leela has gently but powerfully guided me toward more loving and empowering perspectives. She has helped instill in me a belief that anything is possible, that I do have the power to heal.
The wisdom she carries—from her own journey and from supporting hundreds of others—is deeply felt. I trust her all the more because I know she has lived what she is helping me through. I couldn’t be more grateful for her. She embodies the perfect balance of compassion, patience, and a loving challenge—always nudging me toward greater confidence and trust in myself and what I am capable of.
~Elyse, Colorado
How do you help people?
My support adapts to your needs in the moment. I help clients:
- Reframe their experiences in more hopeful and empowering ways
- Clarify goals and navigate uncertainty with more confidence
- Regain trust in themselves and in their body’s wisdom
- Explore what healing or forward movement could look like
- Feel less alone during difficult transitions
I also bring practical tools, honest feedback, and collaborative problem-solving. I am not here to fix you or tell you exactly what to do. I’m here to walk with you as you come home to your own voice and knowing.
What’s your role compared to a medical or mental health provider?
I am a coach and consultant, not a licensed clinician. This means:
I DO:
- Share from lived experience, including withdrawal and recovery
- Offer insight and encouragement without hierarchy
- Help you think things through and reconnect with your own authority
- Support you in healing or tapering decisions (in collaboration with healthcare providers if needed)
I DO NOT:
- Diagnose or treat any conditions
- Direct your taper, provide specific taper schedules, or tell you when/how much to reduce
- Prescribe, recommend, or manage medications or supplements
- Make predictions about outcomes or about how long healing will take
What is your stance on medication?
I am not anti-medication. I am pro fully informed choice. I believe people deserve to understand the full picture before making decisions about medications, including risks, alternatives, and withdrawal realities. Some of my clients decide to taper, some stay on medications. I support what’s right for you in your current season.
How often do people work with you?
Some people meet just once or twice during a challenging season or when they have specific questions. Others choose packages that include regular sessions along with text-based support in between. The most powerful shifts and meaningful transformations usually happen through consistent, tailored support.
Do you take insurance?
No, insurance (including out-of-network benefits) will not cover this kind of work.
Do you require intake forms?
No forms. Our first session is a conversation where I learn about your history, your present circumstances, and your hopes for what comes next.
What if I can’t meet during regular weekday hours?
Most of my sessions take place Monday through Friday, between 10am and 5pm ET. However I know those hours don’t work for everyone. I’m sometimes able to offer evening or weekend sessions by request, depending on availability and fit. These times are usually reserved for clients who find it routinely difficult to attend during regular weekday hours. If that sounds like you, feel free to reach out and share your availability in Eastern Time.
What if I’m in crisis?
If you’re navigating a very high-stakes or urgent situation, or facing extreme emotional overwhelm that makes it hard to step back and reflect, this may not be the right time for us to work together. I can often be helpful in intense circumstances, but I also know when a situation requires more than I am able to provide. I reserve the right to pause or decline work when I sense that I cannot effectively be of service.
What if I’m not tapering?
Many of my clients are not tapering at all, and some are not taking any medication. While my own withdrawal journey shaped how I see the world, my work has grown to support anyone navigating disillusionment with the systems around them—medical, mental health, or otherwise. If you are seeking steady, real, deeply human support as you listen for your own truth, you are welcome here.
What if one-on-one work isn’t right for me right now?
There are wonderful free and low-cost withdrawal-related resources available if you need support outside of private sessions: