About Dr. Leslie Hemedes

I was born in Los Angeles, CA, and spent the majority of my upbringing in Sacramento, CA. Both of my parents immigrated from the Philippines before I was born. Having two parents that assimilated to the United States allowed me to develop a strong multicultural lens when engaging within my relationships. Drawing upon personal experience, I am sensitive to the vital role that our environment plays when we develop a sense of self, our world view, and our way of engaging within relationships.

As I think about what brought me into this field, I am brought back to my 10-year old self; sitting in the backseat of my mother’s car, watching the cars and trees pass by. A feeling of calm comes over me as I allowed my thoughts to drift. During these moments, my curiosity often led me to wonder how things came into being. I found myself feeling curious about the differences that I had in relation to my brother. We had the same parents and were given the same opportunities, yet we seemed to feel & engage with life in very different ways. I used to imagine how different life would have been if my parents never immigrated to this country, if I didn’t grow up in two separate households, or if I didn’t have the same life experiences that I have.

My eagerness to discover the answers to these questions was my way of making sense of my reality. It was a way of creating a sense of who I am, and a way of figuring out what/where my place is within this world. Throughout my life, I’ve challenged myself to step outside of my world, and to imagine sitting in someone else’s shoes, and to understand the lens from which they look. Being able to step in and out of my perspective has allowed me to understand myself and others in a deeper way.

Throughout my time in this field, I have been deeply moved while sitting across from the people that I work with. There is nothing that separates me from the person sitting across from me. I see another human being who wants to be understood, feel connected, and who is worthy of it all. I’m drawn to the part of this work that brings two people together to share in moments of creativity, which makes both feel more alive and authentic. Some of the patients that I have treated have struggled to see the value in themselves due to the harsh realities of their lives. The most fulfilling aspect of this work is the honor of being a part of a process that empowers individuals and helps them discover the strengths and points of resiliency that sometimes can be difficult to uncover.

My clinical experience includes providing therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups in a variety of settings (i.e., in-patient hospitals, community outpatient mental health centers, public school systems, to private practice settings).

Testimonial