About Leslie Mclaren

Leslie McLaren is completing her Master of Science in Psychotherapy at McMaster University and is an intern therapist under the supervision of our Clinical Director Mark Nixon.

Leslie’s path to therapy wasn’t a straight line. Originally from Switzerland, she moved to Canada on her own at nineteen to pursue a career in film. That leap took her from a small-town in Switzerland to Vancouver and eventually to Guelph, navigating new cities, new careers, and the kind of reinvention that only comes from starting over more than once. Along the way, she discovered that what she was most drawn to were the people around her. Whether helping a fellow actor manage the emotional weight of a difficult scene or in workshops that brought groups closer together, Leslie kept finding herself in the role others turned to when things felt hard.

Leslie’s approach to therapy is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. She believes you are the expert on your own life and that her role is to walk alongside you. Her work is grounded in evidence-based practices and centres on helping you build self-awareness, self-compassion, and strategies that actually fit your life. Whether you’re looking for clarity, confidence, or simply a space to be honest without judgment, Leslie is here to help.

Relationship Anxiety and Insecurity

If you’ve ever spent hours replaying a conversation with your partner, wondering whether you’re “too much” or not enough, or quietly questioning whether this is really the right relationship — you’re not alone, and Leslie gets it. She has personal experience navigating the complexities of a long-term partnership, including long-distance, learning to live together, and figuring out how to communicate needs without losing yourself in the process. .

Leslie works with people caught in cycles of doubt, reassurance-seeking, and overthinking. Whether you’re unsure about your partner’s commitment, struggling with trust, anxious about moving in together, or frustrated by unmet emotional needs, Leslie can help you develop healthier, more grounded ways of relating — to your partner and to yourself.

Major Life Transitions & Change

Leslie knows firsthand what it feels like to leave everything familiar behind and build a life from scratch — the culture shock, the loneliness, and the slow work of creating belonging in a place that doesn’t yet feel like home. She later navigated a major career shift, learning that growth often looks nothing like what you originally planned. Her volunteer work with newcomers at the YMCA in Hamilton, wellness walking groups in Guelph, and telephone wellness checks through Compass Community Services has only deepened her understanding of what it takes to find connection during uncertain times.

If you’re navigating a move, a culture shift, a career change, or the gap between who you were and who you’re becoming, Leslie can help you find your footing and reconnect with a sense of purpose.

Student Stress & Anxiety

Balancing coursework, deadlines, part-time work, and questions about your future can feel relentless — especially when it seems like everyone else has it figured out. Leslie knows what it’s like to live with ADHD and has developed her own strategies for managing the difficulties that accompany having a brain that works differently. She brings that lived understanding into her work with students navigating neurodivergence, performance anxiety, and academic stress. Her goal is to help you build skills that are realistic and sustainable — not just another list of things you should be doing.

Personal Background

Leslie grew up in a small town in Switzerland with a Canadian father and Swiss mother. She speaks German and stays deeply connected to her roots — from hiking the Säntis mountain to enjoying raclette with family back home. She has a lilac tattoo on her arm, a quiet reminder of her trust in herself, her family, and the resilience that brought her here. Outside of therapy, Leslie loves to read fantasy books, play soccer and volleyball, and sing in her car! She misses fostering cats during the pandemic which taught her the value of offering a safe landing to someone in between chapters.

Email: leslie.mclaren@mylifecounselling.ca
Phone: 1-800-828-9484 (ext. 128)