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Leap Well Into Healing and Growth

Professional, Warm, and Culturally Attuned Therapy

Leap Well is not just for therapy. It's about healing past wounds while growing toward your fullest potential, one compassionate step at a time.

Serving Clients from New York, USA & Ontario, Canada

Service available in English & Mandarin

About Me

Lena Gu — LCSW (NY) | RSW (ON)

  • Deep Clinical Expertise: 10+ years of experience, 10,000+ clinical hours
  • Rigorous Training: Dual Master's degrees from Columbia University (Clinical Psychology + Social Work)
  • Leadership Experience: 7+ years leading clinical teams and supervising therapists
  • Versatile Toolkit: CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, EFT, TF-CBT, Drama Therapy
  • Creative Approaches: Integrating arts, drama, and expressive modalities
  • Cultural Attunement: Lived experience as Asian immigrant woman

There are many therapeutic approaches out there. I’ve trained in a wide range, and I have a full toolkit.

But honestly, that’s not what matters most.

What matters is what actually works the best for you. We’ll figure that out together, at your pace, in a way that fits your needs. “Client-centered” isn’t just a buzzword to me — it’s the heart of how I work.


Who I Work With The Most

Women & LGBTQ+ Individuals

Navigating cultural expectations while honoring your authentic self

  • Family pressure and intergenerational conflict
  • Cultural identity exploration
  • Pregnancy, postpartum depression, motherhood
  • Balancing tradition and personal truth

You long for: Being seen, understood, and free to be yourself

Anxious Individuals & High Achievers

Excelling on the outside, struggling on the inside

  • Perfectionism, imposter syndrome
  • Work stress and burnout
  • Relationship challenges
  • Family of origin wounds
  • Sleep difficulties

You long for: Inner peace that matches your outer success

Those Healing from Relationship Wounds

Breaking free from patterns that no longer serve you

  • Recovering from toxic relationships
  • Feeling stuck in unhealthy dynamics
  • Setting boundaries you never learned
  • Healing from emotional abuse or betrayal
  • Understanding why you attract certain partners

You long for: Healthy love without the hurt

Immigrants & Cross-Cultural Navigators

Finding yourself between worlds

  • Acculturation stress and identity
  • Isolation and loneliness
  • Grief of leaving home
  • Discrimination and microaggressions
  • Parenting across cultures

You long for: Belonging without losing yourself

What I Offer ① — Therapy Services

Individual Therapy

For adults seeking support with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, cultural identity, life transitions, and personal growth.

Couples Therapy

For partners seeking to improve communication, heal wounds, rebuild trust, or deepen your connection.

Child and Teens Therapy

Help your child or teen develop healthy emotional and relational habits at home and at school.

What Do I Offer ② — Training & Coaching

Clinical Supervision

Supporting pre-licensed and licensed therapists in their professional development, especially minority clinicians navigating the field.

Life Coaching & Creative Expression

For individuals seeking personal growth, clarity, and creative exploration.

Workshops & Training

Mental health workshops, arts-based healing, and professional training for organizations and communities.

How We Work Together

You've probably heard that therapy has many methods—CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, and so on. But here's what matters most: What works for YOU right now?

I don't believe in one-size-fits-all. I bring together:

  • Science-Driven Evidence-Based Practices: When you need concrete tools and proven strategies
  • Art, Creativity, and Philosophical Exploration: When you need to access what words can't quite reach

Some days you need practical coping skills. Other days you need to explore deeper meanings. I meet you where you are and adjust our approach as you grow.

My Methods Include:

  • CBT, DBT, and ACT for anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) for trauma
  • Mindfulness-based approaches for present-moment awareness
  • Narrative therapy for rewriting your story
  • Drama therapy and creative expression for embodied healing
  • Person-centered approaches that honor your unique journey

My Therapeutic Style

Gentle Yet Transformative

I practice what's known in Chinese as "润物细无声" (rùn wù xì wú shēng) — nourishing like gentle rain. You may not have dramatic breakthrough every single session (you may get it often though), but when you look back after a few sessions, you'll be surprised how far you've leaped.

Safe, Open, Non-Judgmental

  • Take off your armor and be seen
  • Slow down and feel what you're actually experiencing
  • Try things you wouldn't dare in real life
  • Be completely, authentically yourself

Won't Push You Before You're Ready

I believe in supporting you within your window of tolerance. We move at your pace. If something feels too much, we slow down.

There's no agenda to force you through pain before you're ready.

Collaborative & Empowering

You're the expert on your own life. I walk alongside you, not ahead of you.

I bring professional expertise and perspective, but you bring knowledge of your own experience, values, and what feels right for your life.

Take The First Step

Schedule with Ease, Any Time

Taking the first step is brave—I'm here to make it easy.

You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure we're the right match.

Secure online booking system makes scheduling simple and stress-free. No phone tag, no back-and-forth, it provides instant confirmation with automatic appointment reminders.

Your privacy is paramount. All bookings are encrypted and HIPAA-compliant.

No obligation. No pressure.

Get In Touch

Have questions? Want to learn more about our services? Email me and I'll respond personally within two business days.

[email protected]
Response within 48 hours