Testimonials

  • “Working with Leah has taught us about balancing the needs and wants of the individual and the couple. We have learned to be more aware of that struggle and to allow room for both elements in our marriage. It has helped us work past our resentment and enjoy a more peaceful and joyful marriage together.”
  • “Ms. Leah has this amazing ability to make you feel like you've known her all your life. As soon as I met her, I felt comfortable and was able to talk to her. Having Leah as my therapist helped me learn so much about myself. She helped lead the way for me to become the person I am today.”
  • “Seeing Leah Benson was the perfect pathway leading me to the happiest and healthiest mental state of my life. She helped guide me as I learned about myself and how my mind and body work together with each other and with my past. Now, armed with my newfound knowledge, I lead my self through life instead of life dragging me along like those many years before I met with Leah Benson. I will always look fondly on our time together and my progress made. My sessions were not only exactly what I needed to get a leg up on life, but I believe they were also a God-send.”

Areas of Expertise

Depression - Anger - Confidence Issues - Adoption - Teen issues/Parent coaching - Behavior problems in children - Couples concerns - sexuality - Identity issues.

Services Provided

Short and long term Individual, Adolescent and Couples counseling - Child play therapy - Three-session parent coaching package - Eight and 12 week teen groups on social-life, bullying, questions of identity, academic pressures, depression, dealing with conflict, grief, abusive family situations and adoption - Ongoing adult groups on improving life satisfaction and effective life functioning, stress management and depression - Private adoption home studies

A few words about me

Ms. Benson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in the Tampa Bay Area. She received her B.A. in French and Bachelor of Journalism from The The University of Texas at Austin, and her M.A. and Ed. M. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University in New York. She has been practicing psychotherapy in the Tampa Bay area since 2001 and before starting her private practice, worked in both inpatient and outpatient treatment settings with adults, adolescents, and children.

During specialized training, Ms. Benson developed skill in working with developmental problems that create recurring relationship challenges in life. She worked with young and middle aged adults experiencing life transitions at the Woman's Health Partnership, associated with Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, and the Center for Educational and Psychological Services at Teachers College, Columbia University. She worked with dually diagnosed adolescents and adults at the The Holliswood Psychiatric Hospital in Queens, New York.

In addition to working with individuals, couples and groups in private practice, Ms. Benson has worked using long-term treatment of developmental and behavioral issues with children and adolescents at the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch in Safety Harbor, provided intensive in-home therapy for individuals and families in the Florida Department of Children and Families dependency system and worked with families who have adopted children both privately and from foster care. Ms. Benson's areas of expertise include depression, anger, confidence issues, teen issues/parent coaching, behavior problems in children, adoption, couples concerns, sexuality and identity issues.

Ms. Benson is an active member of the Tampa Bay Psychoanalytic Society, and the Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association.