Leslie Skaistis, Psy.D.
She/Her/Hers
Populations Served
I provide individual therapy for adults in Milwaukee and offer telehealth throughout Wisconsin.
Languishing: lacking vitality or a sense of meaning or purpose
Social anxiety, worry, & panic attacks
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Trauma in relationships
Difficulty finding or maintaining satisfying connections with others
Perfectionism
People pleasing / trouble expressing wants and needs
Existential dread and anxiety
Processing experiences of discrimination, oppression, or marginalization in order to strengthen a sense of agency and self-trust
Estrangement due to political differences
Women wanting to grow beyond gender roles and expectations
Men wanting to cultivate a sturdy sense of self in a world that tells them they are either a villain or unnecessary
Men struggling with anger, shame, loneliness, or confusion related to changing expectations around masculinity and relationships
Non-binary people who seek to feel at home in themselves, even when the environment around them is not supportive.
Areas of Focus and Specialization
Approach
My approach to therapy is relational, psychodynamic, and grounded in the belief that a meaningful and vibrant life looks different for each person. In therapy, we will explore the patterns, emotions, relationships, and experiences that shape your inner world.
Understanding each client’s identities, culture, and worldview is central to my work. I believe emotional suffering does not occur in a vacuum; therapy should make space not only for your individual psychology, but also for the broader systems that influence your well-being.
I have advanced training in Relational Psychodynamic Therapy, a type of therapy that uses the relationship between the therapist and client to better understand the problems that are bringing a client to therapy.
Additionally, I integrate mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Feminist, Multicultural, and Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) approaches into my work, depending on the needs of the client.
We will spend time dealing with the specific issues that brought you into counseling, while also looking at the nature of your relationships with the significant people in your life.
I will help you become aware of patterns in your thinking, feeling, relating to yourself, and relating to others. We explore the life experiences that set these patterns in motion and how they are showing up in your current life. Often, this unspoken blueprint from childhood is connected to the issues bringing people into therapy, even if they look separate on the surface.
Fees and Insurance
The fee for a 50-minute session is $210. Insurance may cover some of this cost. The amount covered by your insurance can typically be found in a Benefit Plan Description document provided to you by your insurer.
I reserve a certain number of slots for clients who are unable to afford the full session fee, which can be discussed during an initial phone call or appointment.
I am an "out of network" provider, which impacts how payment works compared to a therapist who is "in network" for your insurance. You can read more about that here.
Connect with Leslie
A good fit between therapist and client is an important part of what makes therapy successful.
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can discuss what is bringing you to therapy and how I might help. During this call, I welcome questions about my practice and approach to therapy.
I can be reached by phone or email to schedule an initial consultation: