About Leslie 

When her children left home, Leslie de Graaf, a licensed mental health counselor and EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, was blindsided by the wave of grief that followed. The silence in her home felt unbearable, and the stress and sadness were so overwhelming that her autoimmune disorder resurfaced. Through her own EMDR therapy and years of helping others heal from trauma, Leslie began to find her footing again.

 

Drawing on more than 15 years of experience as a therapist, school counselor, and educator, Leslie now writes for mothers navigating life’s many transitions—combining trauma-informed science with compassion and lived experience. Her books remind moms that their emotions are valid, their stories matter, and healing and joy are possible.