My Approach
I work best with clients seeking support and understanding during times of stress, anxiety and transition. Using compassion, curiosity, creativity and courage, I meet you where you are entering into a supportive therapeutic collaboration with your goals for change leading the way.
My therapy techniques are highly experiential and interactive. You will often hear me say, "Would you be willing to try an experiment?" My training in Gestalt Therapy ("The Empty Chair") and Theater allows me to work creatively with increasing self-awareness, deepening relationships, taking responsibility for thoughts and actions within the Self, identifying ethics and values for living and addressing unfinished "business" with past conflicts and painful experiences.
I utilize body awareness and mindfulness practices in session.
I utilize Brainspotting techniques to assist you in processing trauma and discomfort.
What is Brainspotting?
A "WHOLE PERSON" APPROACH:
I do not subscribe to the idea that people are "broken" and filled with problems. I believe people have everything they need to lead the content, full, connected lives they desire. Difficult habits and unwanted ways of responding to challenges are often habitual patterns of acting, thinking, feeling and being that came about in response to early life experiences where your needs were not met.
My hope is to be able to work with you to recognize and satisfy these old patterns so they no longer cause you to feel stuck and you will be able to access new responses and ways of being. I believe that in the process of doing this work I learn right along with you and we are both changed.
I work with individuals and couples from a systems perspective and I am passionately curious about how you can come to be your most desired self in the here and now while honoring your complex history.
My therapy techniques are highly experiential and interactive. You will often hear me say, "Would you be willing to try an experiment?" My training in Gestalt Therapy ("The Empty Chair") and Theater allows me to work creatively with increasing self-awareness, deepening relationships, taking responsibility for thoughts and actions within the Self, identifying ethics and values for living and addressing unfinished "business" with past conflicts and painful experiences.
I utilize body awareness and mindfulness practices in session.
I utilize Brainspotting techniques to assist you in processing trauma and discomfort.
What is Brainspotting?
A "WHOLE PERSON" APPROACH:
I do not subscribe to the idea that people are "broken" and filled with problems. I believe people have everything they need to lead the content, full, connected lives they desire. Difficult habits and unwanted ways of responding to challenges are often habitual patterns of acting, thinking, feeling and being that came about in response to early life experiences where your needs were not met.
My hope is to be able to work with you to recognize and satisfy these old patterns so they no longer cause you to feel stuck and you will be able to access new responses and ways of being. I believe that in the process of doing this work I learn right along with you and we are both changed.
I work with individuals and couples from a systems perspective and I am passionately curious about how you can come to be your most desired self in the here and now while honoring your complex history.
- Areas of special interest for me include working with anxiety and fear, grief and loss, death and dying, worthiness and shame, blocks to creativity, non-denominational spiritual support and issues related to life transitions. I also work with trauma and co-dependency.
Lesley Meier, MS, MA, LMFT
I received my Master's in Marriage and Family therapy from Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) in May 2015 and spent my residency at the Counseling Center at CTS and at Irvington Counseling LLC. I have completed three years of Gestalt Therapy training with the Indianapolis Gestalt Institute and participate in ongoing monthly seminars, supervision and training.
Prior to being a therapist I received my Master's in Secondary Education in Speech and Theater from IU Bloomington and spent ten years in theater education and arts administration.
My undergraduate degree is from Hanover College where I majored in Theater (acting) and Theology with a special interest in feminist theologies.
Training of special interest for me has been:
Brainspotting 1, March 2021
Brainspotting 2, April 2021
Gestalt Therapy at the Indianapolis Gestalt Institute (2016, 2017, 2020, 2021)
Y12SR - Yoga of 12-Step Recovery with Nikki Meyers, space holder training
200 hour yoga teacher training, trauma informed (Current, 2021-2022)
MBSR - Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, practitioner
Developmental Needs Meets Strategies (DNMS) and Internal Family Systems for addressing developmental traumas
I am a member of the AAGT (Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy, an international community)
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) (License #35002030A Indiana)
Prior to being a therapist I received my Master's in Secondary Education in Speech and Theater from IU Bloomington and spent ten years in theater education and arts administration.
My undergraduate degree is from Hanover College where I majored in Theater (acting) and Theology with a special interest in feminist theologies.
Training of special interest for me has been:
Brainspotting 1, March 2021
Brainspotting 2, April 2021
Gestalt Therapy at the Indianapolis Gestalt Institute (2016, 2017, 2020, 2021)
Y12SR - Yoga of 12-Step Recovery with Nikki Meyers, space holder training
200 hour yoga teacher training, trauma informed (Current, 2021-2022)
MBSR - Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, practitioner
Developmental Needs Meets Strategies (DNMS) and Internal Family Systems for addressing developmental traumas
I am a member of the AAGT (Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy, an international community)
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) (License #35002030A Indiana)