Leslie K. Maitri Canniff

M.ED., LCMHC, LCAS, C.H.T.

Welcome. I know the courage it takes to seek healing, and I honor that you’re here.

As a seasoned somatic psychotherapist, I bring more than experience—I bring deep empathy, careful listening, and grounded presence. My clients often tell me they feel safe, seen, and understood in ways they haven’t before. Safety is always my starting place, because true healing cannot happen without it.

I notice what others might overlook—the story beneath a silence, the truth in a sigh. I’m comfortable with complexity and the places that don’t fit neatly into boxes. My work is neuroaffirming and honors each person’s unique way of thinking, feeling, and being.

Mind, body, and spirit are not separate in my approach. I bring both clinical skill and spiritual grounding, offering honesty, compassion, and practical tools for change.

If you’re ready to begin, I’m here—to create a space where you can exhale, feel safe enough to be real, and take the next steps toward healing what hurts.

Leslie Kay Maitri Canniff

Professional Credentials

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC
  • Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, LCAS
  • Certified Hakomi Therapist, C.H.T.  Training received in Asheville, NC
  • Certified Spiritual Director, training received in Charlotte, NC through the Charlotte Spirituality Center

education background

  • Master of Education in Counseling, Winthrop University – Rock Hill, SC
  • Bachelors of Science degree in Biology, Salem College – Winston-Salem, NC
  • Practicum and Internship done at Charlotte Rescue Mission/Rebound & Dove’s Nest – a 90-day residential treatment center for drug and alcohol addiction.

Professional Experience

  • Extensive clinical experience in a hospital setting and private practice treating adults with a wide variety of clinical mental health and behavioral issues.
  • Advanced Training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy received in Washington, DC and Asheville, NC.  Assistant to Level I Sensorimotor Psychotherapy training.
  • Training and Supervision through the Carolina Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training – Charlotte, NC.  This program was an approved training program of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, AAPC.

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