Leslie Coates Burpee, LPC, NCC

About

Leslie Coates Burpee, MA, LPC, is a licensed and board-certified clinical mental health counselor at The Center for Cognitive Therapy and Assessment, working with Expand Psychology. She works with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, relationship challenges, and chronic health concerns. Leslie creates a supportive, collaborative space where clients can deepen self-understanding, build resilience, and move toward meaningful, lasting change. She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and solution-focused techniques to tailor treatment to each individual.

Specialization

Leslie specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, and chronic pain. She has advanced training in Pain Reprocessing Therapy and frequently works with individuals experiencing physical symptoms that persist despite normal healing, often rooted in emotional stress. Her integrative approach combines evidence-based methods with deep attunement to the emotional and physical dimensions of her clients’ experiences. Leslie is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA), Virginia Counselors Association (VCA), Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC), and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Education, Training, and Professional Experience

Leslie earned her undergraduate degree from Davidson College and a Master’s in Psychology from Harvard University, where she collaborated with Dr. Ellen Langer on groundbreaking research in mindfulness. She went on to complete a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marymount University and received advanced training in CBT under Drs. Aaron and Judith Beck. In addition to her clinical work, Leslie supports early-career clinicians through training and supervision, providing both individual and group supervision, and contributing to the development of training modules for doctoral externs and counseling residents.