The Real Dr Leslie

02/23/2026

I can see it…
The shrinking. The justifying. The silence.

You think it’s love.
But it’s emotional toxicity.

Now there’s EvA Rising

It’s where we unpack toxic patterns,
break self-silencing,
and rebuild the version of you that doesn’t disappear in relationships.

Small group. Safe space. Real healing.

If this felt personal… it is.
✨ Join Eva Rising.
Girl, let me help you.

02/23/2026

Repeat after me…
I refuse to be silenced.
I refuse to abandon my desire for real, healthy love.
I refuse to believe lies that distort my worth or reality.

This week, stand in truth and clarity.

02/19/2026

Hey sis, there’s a seat for you. ☕️

02/17/2026

https://youtu.be/sgr_swtRcoI?si=V8HRUGJPMFRmbVU5

In this video, I break down displaced anger: how it shows up after betrayal, how it impacts your relationships, and what it’s really protecting you from emot...

02/16/2026

Are you stuck wondering if you made the right decision to end your last relationship or friendship?
It’s time to let it go.

Our heart and mind always seek connection and understanding. But sometimes, we can get stuck wondering—even when we know we did all the right things and it just didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.

We can get stuck in self doubt, questioning whether we made the right decision to leave. But trust that someday, unexpectedly, you will see that you did exactly what was best for you.

02/14/2026

Especially not on Valentine’s Day, when loneliness gets dressed up as desire and old habits start whispering your name. When the texts come in late and your heart tries to confuse attention with affection. Pause. Ask yourself if this moment is really about connection or just about not wanting to feel alone tonight.

Self-love sometimes looks like saying no to what’s familiar but empty. It’s choosing to go home, take off the lashes, light a candle, and sit with yourself instead of settling for someone who only wants access, not intention. It’s remembering that your body isn’t a placeholder, and your heart isn’t something to borrow for the night.

You don’t need a Valentine to be valuable.
You don’t need a hookup to be wanted.
And you definitely don’t need crumbs on a day that celebrates love.

02/08/2026

❤️ This Valentine’s Day, give the gift that protects your relationship. ❤️

Toxic relationships don’t usually start toxic.
They start with unspoken expectations, unmet needs, and avoided conversations.

That’s why I created The First Year Relationship Conversation Cards.

These cards help couples:
• Talk about boundaries before resentment builds
• Identify red flags early…not years later
• Communicate needs without fear, guilt, or silence
• Build emotional safety instead of emotional confusion

If you want a relationship that feels safe, balanced, and emotionally mature, this is the Valentine’s gift that actually matters. Because preventing toxicity is easier than healing from it.

👉 Get yours here:
https://www.evaempowered.com/products/the-first-year-relationship-conversation-cards

Struggling to navigate relationships, especially after toxic experiences? THE FIRST YEAR is your guide to building strong, meaningful connections. Through engaging discussions and thought-provoking questions, these cards foster healthy emotional and intellectual bonds from the start. Relationship Co...

02/05/2026

If you’re seeking mental health and emotional support, I have one more space to offer for new or returning clients. Please email me to get scheduled.

02/05/2026

Chaos often feels familiar to women who grew up in environments where love came with inconsistency, emotional unpredictability, or survival mode. What feels normal isn’t always what’s healthy.

In this video, I break down:
• What “addiction to chaos” really means
• Why your nervous system craves dysfunction
• How toxic relationships can feel “exciting” but keep you stuck
• Why healing often feels uncomfortable before it feels peaceful

If you’ve ever confused chaos for chemistry or intensity for love, this conversation is for you.

🎥 Watch the video and begin unlearning what no longer serves you.

Have you heard of the “Chaos Addiction?” The craving for chaos is toxic and requires us to dig deep into the patterns in our lives that disrupt our peace. Jo...

02/04/2026

✍🏽 I wrote a little something. 📰

The recent SA allegations within the jiu jitsu community have been deeply painful but not surprising for many women. When power, authority, access, and silence intersect, harm often follows.

As a jiu jitsu coach and a psychotherapist, I sit at a rare intersection. I see both what happens on the mat and what women carry off the mat—the confusion, the self-silencing, the loyalty to systems that don’t always protect them, and the fear of speaking out when the cost feels too high.

It wasn’t easy but that’s why I wrote my recent article for Brainz Magazine:
“From the Inside: A Jiu Jitsu Coach and Psychotherapist on Power Dynamics in Jiu Jitsu Relationships.”

This piece isn’t about cancel culture or tearing the sport down. It’s about naming reality, speaking truth to make long lasting systemic change.

If you belong to the jiu jitsu community, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to message me or comment below 👇🏽

Hookups in jiu jitsu gyms are not necessarily unethical. However, when intimate relationships brew within power-imbalanced training environments, they can mirror familiar dynamics of power, control...