Denise LeClaire, MA, LLP, is a Limited Licensed Psychologist with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology who has worked in the helping profession for over 30 years. Her work has included art therapy, substance abuse/substance abuse prevention, psychological evaluation, divorce mediation and adjustment, foster care, equine assisted psychotherapy, teaching, school counseling, and the National Council for Behavioral Health’s Mental Health First Aid program. Denise is also an award-winning mixed media artist and facilitator of personal development art workshops.

Denise is passionate about helping others navigate mental health challenges, life transitions and the vulnerabilities that may result. She enjoys helping adults and adolescents from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and adjustment challenges, including but not limited to anxiety, stress, depression, relationship issues, divorce adjustment, and grief and loss. She also assists people in a coaching capacity for those who desire a focus on proactive personal growth and seek a life of more engagement and meaning. Denise provides ADHD evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults.

Denise uses a broad range of dynamic, creative, and intentional therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Art Therapy, Narrative Journaling, Meditation, and Mindfulness. Interventions are designed to offer support, explore one’s strengths, and facilitate insight and different ways of thinking resulting in new ways of being in the world. Denise is dedicated to helping clients create the change that they seek with regard to new habits, new ways of communicating and managing emotions, and to support her clients motivation to take action.

Denise provides a respectful, safe, accepting, and non-judgmental place for her clients to engage in frank and honest dialogues and to create a map through their healing journey. She strives to understand each person’s circumstances, what those circumstances mean to them, and through a solid therapeutic alliance foster hope and nourish change.

To set up an initial appointment with Denise, please call our office at 616.607.4476 or email Amanda@startandassociates.com

To contact Denise for other reasons, please call her directly at 616.801.3792 or e-mail Denise@startandassociates.com