Leona Pusey-Rigg

Leona Pusey-Rigg is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people navigate major life changes and everyday stress. She welcomes people facing anxiety, depression, grief, parenting strain, caregiving burdens, or the ripple effects of trauma. Leona writes simply and directly, aiming to make therapy feel manageable rather than overwhelming for someone just starting out.

Leona uses a mix of practical methods in sessions. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, client-centered care, and motivational interviewing to tailor each plan. Sessions focus on small steps that connect to values, reduce distressing patterns, and improve daily functioning.

With 15 years listed in this profile as clinical experience and additional background in social work, Leona prioritizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. She helps people recognize strengths they already have, and then builds on those strengths toward realistic goals. She emphasizes collaboration rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Leona works with people dealing with mood disorders, stress, relationship and family concerns, chronic illness or caregiving strain, immigration-related stress, and end-of-life issues. She also addresses sleeping problems, career stress, and feelings of isolation or loss.

Sessions are offered from Florida and are conducted via live video with occasional phone sessions. Prospective clients are encouraged to use the Start Therapy button to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a time that fits their needs.

Therapeutic approaches and what online sessions can offer

Leona commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice painful thoughts without being driven by them while clarifying what matters most. It can be useful for life transitions, chronic stress, and adjusting to loss. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing small behavioral changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety and low mood.

She also brings client-centered listening and mindfulness into sessions, which means the work is guided by the person's goals and paced to their comfort. Choosing the right combination of approaches is part of the work; the therapist and client decide together which methods fit the client’s needs, goals, and preferences as therapy progresses.

The profile indicates sessions are provided via live video with occasional telephone options. If you are considering online work, confirm the current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce time spent traveling to an appointment. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and mindfulness practices to work well over video or phone so progress continues between sessions.