Brittany Leffler,

Hello, I’m Brittany Leffler, a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).  I am passionate about helping my clients find joy, connection, healing, and meaning through the therapeutic process. I aim to help my clients move away from blame and shame to examine the root causes of pain and trauma, gain insight into unhelpful patterns, and find alternative, adaptive responses to their problems that create true safety and wholeness. I recognize that power imbalances & privilege can be barriers to individual, relational, and community wellness, so I take an anti-oppression approach in my work. 

My Background & Current Practice

I worked in the theatre industry for over a decade before becoming a therapist. The American political climate and the birth of my daughter propelled me out of show business and into the mental health field, where I felt called to use my creativity to connect with people directly and work toward social justice by focusing on human dignity, worth, and relationships.

I entered the mental health field as a crisis counselor & support group facilitator for victim-survivors of sexual violence, a forensic exam accompanying advocate, & violence prevention educator. While in the Master of Social Work program at Millersville University, I studied trauma-informed healthcare. I co-authored four published research articles with an all-female team of scholars who investigated the impacts of poverty, loneliness & social isolation, as well as the influences of letter-writing, community, & relationship-building on mental health. These experiences inform my current practice as a Therapist who is fully trained in EMDR, certified in TF-CBT and is actively pursuing AASECT sex therapy & EMDRIA certifications. 

My Therapy Style

Although I provide treatment as a therapist, I’m a human first – meeting my clients with warmth, curiosity & compassion in a judgment-free zone. My colleagues describe me as an insightful, collaborative & encouraging therapist with a dash of humor. Building trust within the therapeutic relationship is a priority for me because it empowers my clients to peel back their layers, explore their roles in the systems they are a part of, and process and discuss sensitive topics at their own pace.

I weave expressive arts, psychodrama, Emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness, and Gottman Couples interventions into my client sessions. I am competent in working with clients’ trauma histories, attachment issues, sexual, body & gender issues, and co-occurring symptoms presenting as depression & anxiety. I identify as a sex-positive and body-positive therapist and treat clients of all genders, sexualities, and relationship arrangements. 

About Me

I love city life and the creativity in downtown Lancaster’s art galleries, theaters, markets, architecture, parks, and restaurants. My personal self-care is spending quality time in my kitchen with friends, family & my rescue dog Penny, where I’m usually cooking an Ina Garten recipe with 90’s alternative or indie-alternative music playing in the background. 

PA License #SW139512

Brittany Leffler Availability

Brittany is available to provide online sessions to anyone in Pennsylvania and in-person sessions in Lancaster, PA.