Hi, I’m Victoria! (she/they)

As a lived-experience therapist, I specialize in neurodiversity-affirming therapy for individuals navigating eating disorders, religious trauma, and identity exploration. My goal is to provide a brave, non-judgmental space where you can reflect on your experiences, reclaim agency over your life, and develop strategies that align with your unique strengths and values. I believe that you are the expert on your own story, and in our work together, I will encourage you to trust yourself more deeply and move toward healing in a way that feels right for you.

I offer online individual therapy for adults and teens across California, providing accessible and affirming care that meets you where you are. Whether you're exploring your relationship with food and body, healing from religious trauma, or navigating life as a neurodivergent person, I’m here to support you with a therapy experience that prioritizes collaboration and consent.

Get To Know Me!

I am a queer, dynamically disabled, and neurodivergent human using my lived experience with eating disorder recovery and religious trauma healing to help guide my work with clients. I believe that we heal in relationships so it’s so important to me to be able to show up authentically. I am an abolitionist and work from a decarceral framework and social justice lens because therapy is inherently political.

I’m married to my lovely wife and we have a goofy goldendoodle named Oliver (pictured here) and a tiny terrier mix puppy we recently adopted. I’ve got a whole range of hobbies including creating art, trying out local coffee shops, reading, and joyful dancing around my home.

You can find me on Instagram @victoriarleon

What’s therapy like with me?

My therapy style is rooted in relational and psychodynamic principles because I believe in the transformative power of relationships and work collaboratively with my clients to understand their experiences.

I welcome the unique ways folks show up in the space.

I work from a compassion-focused lens and help folks understand how to work with rather than against themselves. I also weave in art and skill-building techniques such as RO-DBT, DBT, and ACT if/when it fits and utilize harm reduction techniques to promote a balanced and sustainable path towards growth and resilience. 

I prioritize consent in treatment and will always offer space for clients to opt-in to all aspects of our work together rather than mandating what care looks like or forcing my ideas on folks.

I believe in helping folks listen to their inner knowing and learning to trust themselves more deeply. I also believe in the power of imagining for ourselves what the life we want looks like and working together towards that goal. A recovery that we define and create for ourselves is perhaps the most healing, liberating, and sustainable sort of recovery and I work as a comrade towards that goal.

You can trust yourself.

Professional Background

Clinical settings:

  • Monarch Rising Therapy (where I’m at now!)

  • Reclamation Collective (religious trauma support groups)

  • Eating Recovery Center (virtual iop)

  • Revolutionary Eating Disorder Psychotherapy and Consultation

  • Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Center (residential, php, iop)

  • Lifeline Community Services (community mental health)

  • Telecare (care for folks experiencing severe and persistent mental health challenges)

Non-clinical settings:

  • Teaching elementary and middle school students

  • Supportiv (peer support for mental health challenges)

Education:

  • Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California

  • B.A. Liberal Studies, Elementary Education from Biola University

Recent trainings attended:

  • BIPOC Eating Disorders Conference

  • Rethinking Mental Health from IDHA

  • Radical Mental Health First Aid Intensive with Oumou

  • Affirming and Celebratory Transgender Care

  • Reclamation as a Clinical Intervention from the Reclamation Collective

  • Spiritual Abuse Recognition and Recovery from the Reclamation Collective

  • Ethics in the Co-Creation of the Therapeutic Container from the Reclamation Collective

  • Religious Trauma, Christian Patriarchy & Eating Disorders: 2 Part Series from Nalgona Positivity Pride

  • Eating Disorder Harm Reduction from Nalgona Positivity Pride

  • Disordered Eating: Somatic, Self-Compassion, and Mindfulness Interventions for Lasting Recovery

  • Binge Eating Disorder: Clinical Interventions to Treat Underlying Trauma, Body Shame, and the Diet/Binge Cycle

  • Is Exercise Recommended for Eating Disorder Recovery?: A Discussion

  • Nourishing the Soul: Exploring the mind-body-spirit connection in Eating Disorder Recovery

  • Implementing Harm Reduction

  • Addictive Behaviors as Self-Preservation

  • Developing a Supportive Culture for LGBTQ Survivors of Abuse