About Us
We’re real people who care deeply, listen fully, and use evidence-based approaches to help you reach your goals. At Perspectives Counseling of LI, we believe therapy works best when it feels authentic — our therapists bring warmth, empathy, and proven strategies to help you heal and thrive.
Abby Leefer, LCSW-R, Director
Perspectives Counseling of Long Island was founded in 2019 by Abby Leefer, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field. Abby earned her Master’s Degree from Stony Brook University and began her career in 1991 as a substance abuse prevention counselor in a middle school, where she developed a strong foundation in fostering resilience and meeting clients where they are. After 15 years working in public schools and another 15 years in private practice, she established Perspectives Counseling of Long Island to expand access to thoughtful, high-quality mental health care for individuals and families.
Abby takes a client-centered, collaborative approach to therapy and believes that each person’s experiences and challenges are unique. She integrates a range of therapeutic approaches—including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalytic theory, family systems work, and Rogerian-based humanistic therapy—to tailor treatment to each client’s needs. Abby is committed to creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions, gain insight into their experiences, and work toward meaningful and lasting change.
Today, Perspectives Counseling of Long Island is home to a team of 15 skilled practitioners with diverse specialties and backgrounds. What unites the team is a shared passion for helping people, deep respect for each client’s story, and a belief in every person’s capacity for self-understanding, resilience, and healing when supported by a strong therapeutic relationship.
Rooted in Rogerian (Client-Centered) principles, the practice emphasizes the healing power of authentic human connection. While the team draws from a range of evidence-based approaches—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), somatic therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and internal family systems (IFS)—these tools are grounded in the belief that meaningful change begins with a trusting, compassionate relationship between therapist and client. At Perspectives, therapists are not only professionals, but fellow humans walking alongside you. That is the heart of everything we do.
What is Client-Centered Care?
Client-centered treatment means you’re seen as the expert of your own life. In this approach, therapy is a collaboration — you bring your experiences, insights, and goals, and we bring respect, empathy, guidance, and evidence-based tools to support you in understanding your own unique needs, identity and life path. It’s not about having all the answers or doing all the work on your own; it’s about creating a space where you feel safe, understood, and empowered to grow at your own pace. Our role is to walk beside you, helping you uncover your strengths and find the clarity and confidence to navigate your life from a place of self understanding.
