Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Leslie Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Dr. Leslie , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

I’ve had many inspiring bosses, but the one who is the most memorable is Ms. Loretta Knox. Ms. Loretta supported me professionally and personally, and she always trusted me to be a leader amongst my peers. When writing reports regarding the children and families we served in the Illinois child welfare system, Ms. Loretta would always push me to give her “more fluff.” She always wanted me to tell their stories, and I guess I’ve always taken that with me when I work with a client. I don’t want to know about them on paper and what someone may say about them. I want to know their story, in their words. The work I do helps them tell their story in more detail with greater insight. With all of my accomplishments, I always remember Ms. Loretta and I know she’s in heaven smiling because I’ve made her proud.

Dr. Leslie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I always knew from the time I was a teen that I would be a counselor. I guess I had a natural gift to provide insight, and I’ve always enjoyed talking about relationships and helping people navigate relationship drama.

As Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Relationship Coach my goal is empower women around the world to break free from toxic relationships. With a personalized approach I help individuals thrive in healthy relationships with a romantic partner, friend, or family member. I also help clients address anxiety and depression stemming from toxic relationship dynamics.

Using an emotion-focused approach I empower women and youth with tools to improve their relationships and self-esteem. I recently began the process to becoming a Certified Emotion Focused Therapist, which has been exciting for me. This style of therapy simply seems to fit who I am and how I naturally flow with my clients.

My ideal clients are teens, young adults, and college students who may struggle to develop healthy boundaries in relationships. I also enjoy helping couples in all stages of the relationship to learn to navigate conflict and communication in order to promote healthy interpersonal dynamics.

I have always been globally minded and desired to serve women around the world. As a licensed counselor, I am limited to serving individuals who reside in the states where I’m license, (IL and MO) so in order to have a global impact I had to pivot. In 2022, I launched my relationship coaching business, Leslie Davis Coaching & Consulting LLC. Most of my clients will say that they’ve never worked with the therapist or relationship coach like me. Besides being a Black therapist with a PhD, a single mom to an amazing heart warrior, and someone who’s walked in my client’s shoes, I believe what sets me apart is that I never sugarcoat the truth.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Let me tell you…I know a little something about resilience. As a Black single mom in America, I earned a masters degree in professional counseling while working full-time and helping my then toddler son recover from two open-heart surgeries during the two years I was in school. I don’t know what it is about my son and my college education, but during my PhD journey it seemed that every beginning of a semester we were in the ER or he was in the hospital for heart related issues. So there I was attending class online and writing papers, again, while working full-time and having a thriving therapy practice. I found it interesting that although I was exhausted from life circumstances, I found energy from serving my clients. Resilience has taught me to show up for the people who I was born to empower, even on my worst day.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy I use to grow my clientele is authenticity. I know who I am, what I was created to do, and I know that nobody can do what I do the way that I do it. With this mindset, I don’t feel a need to compete with others in the professional helping industry. I believe in the importance important of Counselors and Coaches to show up authentically in session and in life because we all have our own superpower that can never be duplicated. Besides, clients can feel when we’re not real and when we’re putting on a professional mask to close a deal. Wearing this mask will not produce longevity or a positive reputation. My promise to all of my clients is to never be sugarcoated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ldcoachingandconsulting.com/
• Instagram: @drlesliedavis
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlesliedavis
• Other: https://linktr.ee/drlesliedavis

Image Credits
Nguyen Photography and CDot Visuals