Leigh Ann Whitus, LCSW

Leigh Ann Whitus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people facing stress and anxiety. She welcomes clients who feel overwhelmed by life changes, relationship strain, grief, or mood swings and works to make the first steps feel manageable.

Leigh Ann earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and practices in Tennessee. She frames therapy as a collaboration, where the client’s goals guide each session. Her style aims to create a calm, accepting atmosphere so people can speak openly and try new ways of coping.

She offers individualized care for concerns such as trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and family stressors. She also supports people dealing with parenting strain, abandonment, attachment struggles, caregiver stress, and feelings of isolation or emptiness.

Her approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered work, and mindfulness techniques. Sessions typically begin with exploring what brought someone to therapy and setting practical goals together.

Christian counseling is available on request, and Leigh Ann aims to provide culturally sensitive care to people from diverse backgrounds. She encourages a steady pace so clients can build skills, try them between sessions, and return to talk about what worked and what didn’t.

How Leigh Ann Uses Therapy Approaches Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and values, then taking small actions that match what matters most. It can help when life feels stuck or when anxiety makes it hard to act. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical tools to shift unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness-based work teaches simple attention skills to reduce reactivity and support calmer decision making in everyday moments.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Leigh Ann will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and together figure out which methods fit best. That plan can change over time based on what helps most.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people practice skills in the contexts where they need them and bring notes or worksheets to sessions for collaborative problem solving.