Leona Pusey-Rigg , LCSW

Leona Pusey-Rigg is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a certified qualified supervisor for social work interns with 15 years of professional experience across diverse practice settings. She centers her work on the alignment of mind, body, and spirit and aims to help people tap into their own strengths to improve quality of life. Leona approaches each person with respect, compassion, and validation, creating a non-judgmental therapeutic relationship that she views as central to positive outcomes.

Her clinical work addresses a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, relationship and family conflict, trauma and abuse, grief and bereavement, parenting and caregiver challenges, aging and geriatric issues, chronic illness and pain, and life transitions. She also supports people facing immigration-related stress, workplace difficulties, hospice and end-of-life matters, and common struggles with guilt, shame, and sense of purpose.

Leona draws on an integrative set of interventions, blending acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioral techniques, client-centered principles, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies to tailor treatment plans to each person’s needs. Her goal is to collaborate with clients to identify practical steps and build the coping skills needed to move forward. She delivers services primarily via live video with occasional telephone sessions.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Leona integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her work to help people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and commit to actions that move them toward a meaningful life. ACT is useful for stress, anxiety, low mood, and navigating significant life changes.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, offering practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, insomnia, and mood symptoms. Client-Centered Therapy informs her stance in sessions, emphasizing empathy and a respectful, collaborative relationship that supports self-discovery and personal growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Leona works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts interventions over time so therapy stays practical and relevant.

Online sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home, support continuity of care during life transitions, and allow clients to choose the format that fits their daily routines.