Dr. Leslie specializes in LGBTQ+ mental health and psychological assessment. They have experience in hospital settings, university counseling centers, community clinics, and private practice. Their clinical and research interests include psychological assessment with LGBTQ+ individuals, adult ADHD assessment, couples therapy, gender affirming care, queer joy, the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity and spirituality/religion, and identity exploration. In their free time, they enjoy reading, writing, spending time with friends, and exploring the myriad ways that humans experience existence.
Education
PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Regent University, 2023
MA in Clinical Psychology from Regent University, 2020
BS in Psychology from UNC Charlotte, 2018
BA in Spanish, Language, and Culture from UNC Charlotte, 2012
Research Interests
Content Areas: LGBTQ+, religion/spirituality, intersection of religion/spirituality and LGBTQ+, surgical readiness assessment for gender affirming care, psychological assessment (with specialty in adult ADHD testing and testing with gender expansive clients), multicultural psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, couples therapy, suicide, mindfulness, ASMR
Research methodology: quantitative
Populations: adolescents, college students and emerging adults, adults, LGBTQ+, couples
Professional Contributions
Leslie, S. M., & Grace, R. A. (August, 2025). In Search of Queer Joy: A Review of the Literature on Resilience, Resistance, and Thriving in the LGBTQ+ Community. [Virtual Poster Presentation]. Division 44, Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, American Psychological Association.
Tjaden, K., Weber, T., Leslie, S. M., & Phillips, E. (June, 2025). Healing horizons: Pride in practice – caring for LGBTQ+ patients. [Panel Discussion]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Weber, T., & Leslie, S. M. (May, 2025). Mental health in the LGBTQIA+ communities. [Webinar Presentation]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Leslie, S. M. (April, 2025). My client just came out to me, now what? [Guest Lecture]. PSY670, Multicultural Psychology, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M. (February, 2025). When salvation feels damning: Religious trauma and finding peace in the darkest night of the soul. [Didactic Presentation]. Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M. (November, 2024). Gender: Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. [Guest Lecture]. College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Saint Joseph, MN.
Sanow-Hansen, C., Coleman, S. & Leslie, S. M. (July, 2024). Occupational health employer summit: Mental health in the workplace. [Workshop Presentation]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Weber, T., & Leslie, S. M. (June, 2024). Mental health in the LGBTQIA+ communities. [Webinar Presentation]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Weber, T., & Leslie, S. M. (May, 2024). Mental health in the LGBTQIA+ communities. [Webinar Presentation]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Leslie, S. M. (March, 2024). Sitting in the nuance: Reconciling the apparent dialects of Sexual/Gender Identity in tension with Faith, Spirituality, and Religion. [Lunch and Learn Presentation]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Leslie, S. M. (February, 2024). When salvation feels damning: Religious trauma and finding peace in the darkest night of the soul. [Didactic Presentation]. Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M. (November, 2023). Faith, Sexual/Gender Identity, and Therapy. [Webinar Presentation]. Parents and Allies of Trans Youth, Saint Cloud, MN.
Leslie, S. M. (November, 2023). Introducing Faith, Religion, and Spirituality into Therapy. [Guest Presentation]. CentraCare – Saint Cloud Hospital, Saint Cloud, MN.
Coleman, S., & Leslie, S. M. (November, 2023). Sexual Dysfunction, Gender Dysphoria, and Paraphilic Disorders. [Guest Lecture]. College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Saint Joseph, MN.
Leslie, S. M. (June, 2023). “Be Mindful of Your Tingles, Anakin”: Exploring the Link Between Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) and Mindfulness. [Didactic Presentation]. Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program (WCPIP), Wichita, KS.
Amerson, R., & Leslie, S. M. (June, 2023). #WeSupportU Suicide Prevention Training for the LGBTQ+ Population. [Workshop Presentation]. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Amerson, R., & Leslie, S. M. (May, 2023). #WeSupportU Suicide Prevention Training for the LGBTQ+ Population. [Workshop Presentation]. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M. (April, 2023). Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations: Human Diversity in Gender. [Guest Lecture]. PSY 670 Multicultural Psychology, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M. (March, 2023). Religion and the Queer Community. [Workshop Presentation]. Spectrum: LGBTQ+ and Allies, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Stafford, H., Bonner, M., & Leslie, S. M. (February, 2023). Queer Sexual Health. [Workshop Presentation]. Spectrum: LGBTQ+ and Allies, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M., Phan, H., Rodriguez, E., & Van, L. (February, 2023). Living well in the age of tech. KMUW’s Engage ICT. [Panel Discussion]. KMUW Wichita, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M. (November, 2022). Self-Care, Healthy Relationships, Good Decision-Making, and Dating Violence. [Workshop Presentation]. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M. & Nweke, C. (November, 2022). #WeSupportU Suicide Prevention Training. [Workshop Presentation]. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M. (October, 2022). Rewording our world. [Panel Presentation]. Spectrum: LGBTQ+ and Allies, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
Leslie, S. M., Pieterse, D., Pacious, G., Vickers, B., & Williams, J. (May, 2022). Debunking Depression…exposing the falsehood and misconceptions of depression. [Workshop Presentation]. Sisters in Spirit, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M. (April, 2022). Healthy Queer: Healthy Relationships and Healthy Boundaries. [Workshop Presentation]. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
Leslie, S. M. (April, 2022). Queer Mental Health: Thriving in the 2020s. [Workshop Presentation]. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
Leslie, S. M. (April, 2022). Psychotherapy with LGBTQ+-Identified Individuals. [Guest Lecture]. PSY 670 Multicultural Psychology, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M., Olvera, G., Vickers, B., Pieterse, D., & Pacious, G. (March, 2022). Q&A Panel on Depression. [Workshop Presentation]. Sisters In Spirit, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M., Kesterson, G., & Coddington, D. (December, 2021). Stress management skill building. [Workshop Presentation]. Enrollment Management Department, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M., & Liles, H. (November, 2021). Stress management and well-being. [Workshop Presentation]. Enrollment Management Department, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M., & Page, C. D. (December, 2020). Compassion fatigue, burnout, and self-care. [Webinar]. Christian Broadcasting Network, Virginia Beach, VA.
Leslie, S. M., & Page, C. D. (December, 2020). Have a holly jolly…COVID Christmas? [Webinar]. Christian Broadcasting Network, Virginia Beach, VA.
Publications
Leslie, S. M., Baum, L. J., & Garzon, F. (2023). “Be mindful of your tingles, Anakin”: Exploring the link between autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) and mindfulness. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, & Practice. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cns0000358.