Struggle to Strive Counseling
Ray Lester, MSW LICSW
Hi there, I'm Ray
I’m glad you’re here. I strive to provide a safe, supportive space for adults, teens, and couples to explore life’s challenges and create meaningful change. My approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Positive Psychology, and Motivational Interviewing to help clients build insight, develop practical tools, and move toward a more confident, balanced, and fulfilling life. Together, we’ll focus on your strengths, goals, and growth, one step at a time.
My approach
Therapy with me is a collaborative process, a conversation built on trust, respect, and understanding. I believe every person has the ability to create meaningful change, and my role is to help you uncover the tools and strengths you already have within you. Using a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Positive Psychology, and Motivational Interviewing, we’ll work together to understand the patterns that may be holding you back and replace them with practical, empowering strategies for growth. Our sessions are goal-focused but flexible, allowing space for reflection, self-discovery, and genuine connection. You can expect a warm, down-to-earth environment where you feel heard, supported, and encouraged. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, or life transitions, my goal is to help you build confidence, resilience, and a deeper sense of well-being both in and outside of our sessions.
My focus
I work with adults and teens who feel stuck or caught in cycles of anxiety, depression, self-doubt, or the lingering effects of trauma. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling disconnected from themselves, unsure how to move forward, and ready for something to change. They want to feel more confident, grounded, and fulfilled, but aren’t sure where to start. In our work together, we’ll slow things down and make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface. Using a blend of CBT, Positive Psychology, and Motivational Interviewing, I’ll help you understand your patterns, build healthier ways of thinking and coping, and reconnect with your strengths and goals. If you’re ready to break out of a rut, quiet the inner critic, and begin moving toward the version of yourself you want to become, I’m here to help you take that next step at your own pace and with genuine support every step of the way.
About Me
Compassionate Care, Tailored to You
I am a veteran of the US Army who served in 2 peacekeeping operations and a war. After my time in the military, I found that I was having trouble reconnecting with people and sought help from a social worker. That social worker helped me reconcile my challenges, develop coping skills, and actually begin to thrive. This led me to a desire to share this healing with others, as I wanted to give back to those who had helped me by helping others find their way to their best self. I found such a great peace and improvement in my outlook that I felt, "I have to share this with others."
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology and Motivational Interviewing, I have been sharing this gift with others since 2023.
Services
Adult Individual Counseling
Life doesn’t always go as planned. At times, you may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward. Adult counseling offers a safe, supportive space to talk openly and work through the challenges that are holding you back.
Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationship struggles, or major life transitions, therapy can help you gain clarity, develop coping tools, and create meaningful change. Together, we’ll explore what’s working and what’s not so you can move toward a life that feels more balanced, authentic, and fulfilling.
Both In person or telehealth sessions are personalized to your needs and goals, using evidence-based approaches and a compassionate, nonjudgmental style. Counseling is an investment in yourself a chance to heal, grow, and reconnect with what matters most to you.
Teen Individual Counseling
The teenage years can be exciting, confusing, and challenging, often all at once. Teens today face enormous pressure from school, peers, social media, and family expectations, and it can sometimes feel like too much to handle alone. Teen counseling provides a safe, confidential space for young people to talk openly, build coping skills, and develop a stronger sense of self.
Whether your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, social challenges, or major life changes, therapy can help them navigate these experiences with greater confidence and resilience.
Each session, whether in person or telehealth, is tailored to meet your teen where they are. Using evidence-based approaches and a compassionate, understanding style, we help teens express themselves in healthy ways, strengthen emotional awareness, and build tools to manage life’s ups and downs.
Counseling gives teens a place to be heard, supported, and understood, and helps families move toward deeper communication and connection.
Couples Counseling
Every relationship faces challenges, even the strongest partnerships experience times of stress, distance, or conflict. Couples counseling offers a supportive, neutral space to reconnect, rebuild trust, and strengthen communication. Whether you’re navigating recurring arguments, life transitions, or simply want to deepen your connection, therapy can help you and your partner work toward a healthier, more fulfilling relationship.
Through guided conversations and evidence-based techniques, couples counseling helps you understand each other’s perspectives, uncover unhelpful patterns, and develop tools to handle conflict with care and respect. Together, we’ll focus on improving communication, rebuilding emotional closeness, and fostering mutual understanding.
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to seek help, couples counseling is an opportunity to grow together, nurture your relationship, and rediscover the bond that brought you together in the first place.
Contact Me
If you’re ready to take the next step toward support and healing, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you have questions, would like more information, or are ready to schedule an in person or virtual appointment, please reach out. I’m here to provide guidance and care tailored to your needs.
Hours:
Mon - Wed
09:00 AM - 02:00 PM | 07:00 pm -09:00 pm.
Thursday
05:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Friday
05:00 pm - 09:00 pm
Weekends by request
Social
