Carrie Leafblad, LPC- Counseling & EMDR Therapy

About Carrie

Helping Adults & Children Heal, Grow, and Feel Empowered
In-Person in Fate/Rockwall Texas | Online Therapy Across Texas

Hi, I’m Carrie—Licensed Professional Counselor, mother, former educator, and someone who understands that healing rarely moves in straight, predictable lines.

For more than 15 years, I’ve walked alongside individuals from all backgrounds who are carrying more than they know how to put into words—relationship struggles, emotional abuse, parenting challenges, major life changes, family conflict, trauma, anxiety, and the weight of trying to hold everything together for everyone else.

Therapy can help you reclaim direction, rebuild trust in yourself, and create a steadier internal foundation—even when life around you still feels chaotic or uncertain. My clients often come to me trying to heal from trauma, manage anxiety or depression, or move through major life transitions such as parenthood, relationship changes, separation or divorce, caregiving, or recovering from emotional or relational wounds. Many arrive feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in patterns they’re ready to break free from. I work with a diverse range of clients. If you’re moving through a difficult relationship, a season of emotional overwhelm, or the lingering impact of past experiences. . . If you’re stepping into a new phase of life and wondering who you are now. . . you’re not alone, and you don’t have to sort through it by yourself.

As a mother, a former teacher, and a mental health professional who has worked in schools, community-based programs, outpatient treatment, and private practice, I understand the pressure of showing up for others while also trying to take care of your own emotional well-being. My therapeutic approach is both compassionate and practical—rooted in real life, real responsibilities, and real change at a pace that honors your story.

My goal is to offer a space where you (or your child) can feel safe, understood, and empowered to grow—without judgment, without rushing, and without pretending everything is fine when it isn’t.

Background & Experience

I earned my Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling and have been providing individual therapy full-time since 2018. Over the years, I’ve worked in a wide range of settings—including schools, community-based outpatient programs, and private practice—serving individuals and families from all walks of life.

My clinical experience includes:

• Extensive work with children and families in school-based and community mental health settings

• Providing outpatient treatment for a wide range of mental health concerns across diverse populations

• Supporting adults through trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and major life transitions

• Helping new moms and caregivers navigate identity shifts, burnout, and emotional stress

• Offering culturally responsive care for clients with varied backgrounds and lived experiences

• Utilizing trauma-informed approaches—including expressive arts and EMDR—to promote meaningful healing and growth

Who I Work With

I work with adults (18+) children (ages 5–11), families, parents and caregivers.

Issues I Work With

For Adults:

• Anxiety, panic, and chronic worry

• Emotional dysregulation and difficulty managing intense emotions

• Life transitions and adjustment challenges (parenthood, career changes, identity shifts, aging)

• Trauma and abuse recovery, including childhood trauma, domestic violence, and complex trauma

• Emotional neglect, gaslighting, and healing from narcissistic or controlling relationships

• Grief and loss

• Relationship and marriage concerns, communication issues, conflict, separation, and divorce recovery

• Parenting challenges, co-parenting stress, and family conflict

• Work-related stress, burnout, and work–life balance

• Women’s health concerns, including perinatal mood changes and hormonal transitions

• Body image concerns and navigating societal pressures

• Emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and balancing multiple roles

• Conflict with adult parents, extended family, blended families, or caregiving dynamics

• ADHD and executive functioning difficulties in adulthood, including late diagnosed

• ASD-related communication challenges, social understanding differences, and communication challenges

• Self-esteem issues, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and boundary-setting

• Stress-related behaviors, substance use, addiction, and impulse control difficulties

• OCD and related symptoms

• Depression, emotional dysregulation, irritability & emotional overwhelm

• Mood & Co-Occurring Disorders, Bipolar disorder, Mood instability

Children (ages 5–11):

• Adjustment disorders and coping with life transitions like starting school, parental separation, or moving homes

• Anger management, frustration tolerance, and impulse control

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Behavioral concerns and emotional regulation difficulties

• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

• Emotional and social development issues such as shyness, low self-esteem, and difficulty with boundaries

• Grief, loss, and family transitions such as divorce, moves, blended families, and adoption

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

• School-related challenges, including academic stress, learning disabilities, bullying, and social skills deficits

• Sleep disturbances and somatic symptoms related to stress (headaches, stomach aches)

• Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including abuse recovery

• Building resilience, coping skills, and confidence

My Approach

I believe therapy should feel safe, grounding, and—when possible—hopeful. My job isn’t to fix you. It’s to walk beside you, help you make sense of your experience, and equip you with tools that really work in everyday life.

I use a combination of evidence-based approaches tailored to your needs, including:

• Trauma-Informed Therapy – understanding the impact of trauma on the body and mind

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – for processing trauma and past events

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) – to shift unhelpful thought patterns

• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) – to support emotion regulation and mindfulness

• CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) – especially helpful for trauma recovery

• Expressive Arts Therapy – for creative expression and emotional exploration

• Person-Centered Therapy – grounded in empathy, respect, and deep listening

Sessions with me are collaborative and goal-focused, but also flexible. We’ll set a direction together and adjust as your needs evolve.

What to Expect

In our first session, we’ll take time to get to know each other. We’ll review your history, talk through your current challenges, and begin setting goals that feel meaningful to you. I’ll always work at a pace that feels comfortable, and I’ll offer structure and support as we move forward.

You’ll never be expected to have it all figured out. That’s what therapy is for.

Why Work With Me?

Because I show up as a real person—not just a clinician. My clients often tell me they feel truly seen and heard in our sessions. I blend professional expertise with lived understanding, so the support you receive feels grounded, practical, and honest.

If you’re ready to take the next step, I’m here to walk with you—through healing, through growth, and into something new.

“Healing and growth are not linear, but with support, guidance, and the right tools, you can learn to face life’s challenges with courage and confidence.”