Dr. Leslie "Les" Netland , OR Psychologist 3296

Dr. Leslie "Les" Netland draws on a broad and varied training background that spans four years at parochial colleges, four years at Big Ten and state universities, and four years at a professional school where he earned a doctorate in clinical psychology. He has built a career that blends administrative responsibilities with primarily clinical work across many settings - including a state hospital, a county jail, nursing homes, a private psychiatric hospital, and multiple private practices. In addition to direct clinical work, he has managed contracts and provided services through Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

His counseling framework is informed by client-centered methods, cognitive-behavioral techniques, family systems thinking, psychodynamic perspectives, solution-focused methods, existential ideas, and faith-based orientations. Early in his career he was a generalist working with clients of all ages and families; he now prefers working with individuals in their late teens and older. He describes counseling as a process for learning more about oneself and one’s relationships, and for making practical changes in areas of life where an individual has control or responsibility.

In practice he operates as teacher, analyst, and facilitator, offering a range of perspectives and skill-building techniques. He is attentive to the challenges that arise when examining thoughts, moods, and behaviors and uses a flexible, culturally sensitive approach to support personal and relational growth. He holds the credential OR Psychologist 3296, indicating his registration as a psychologist in Oregon.

Approaches That Guide Online Sessions

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes respectful listening and collaboration, helping clients explore their goals and values at their own pace. This approach is often helpful for people working through relationship difficulties, self-esteem concerns, or life transitions because it prioritizes the client’s perspective and autonomy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behavior patterns. It is practical and skills-oriented, commonly used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with difficult moods or habits.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental attention to thoughts and bodily experience, supporting emotion regulation and reducing reactivity to stressors. It can complement other techniques when addressing anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and coping with strong emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is done collaboratively. Dr. Netland and each client work together to select or combine methods that match the client’s needs, goals, and personal preferences, adjusting strategies as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity across life changes, and access licensed professionals from different settings, while preserving the core therapeutic work and relationship-building that support growth.