Hi, I’m Victoria! (she/they)

I am a lived-experience therapist and specialize in the intersection of eating disorders and religious trauma. I am passionate about offering a brave and non-judgmental space for folks as they explore their stories, reflect, reclaim agency over their lives, and implement strategies that align with their unique strengths and goals. I believe that you are the expert on your life and story and folks who work with me will likely hear me inviting them to trust themselves more deeply.

I offer online individual therapy throughout California for adults as well as teens on a case-by-case basis.

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 two dogs—a goofy goldendoodle named Oliver (pictured here) and a cuddly little white pup named Herman. I’ve got a whole range of hobbies from making art to exploring libraries and coffee shops to reading and jamming out to Taylor Swift.

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 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)

  • Revolutionary Eating Disorder Psychotherapy and Consultation

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

  • Lifeline Community Services (community mental health)

  • Telecare (severe and persistent mental health care)

Non-clinical settings:

  • Teaching elementary and middle school students

  • Supportiv (peer support moderator)

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

  • 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

  • Affirming and Celebratory Transgender Care