Jessie Leu, LPCC-S, LICDC, CAS
Jessie Leu is a dedicated mental health professional and the founder of In The Weeds Counseling LLC, a practice created to help individuals who feel “in the weeds” navigate life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and practical support. Based in Olmsted Falls, Jessie brings nearly a decade of experience in counseling, clinical supervision, and mental health treatment to his work with adolescents and adults. Drawing inspiration from both the resilience of nature and the human ability to grow through adversity, he built his practice around creating affirming, accessible care for clients seeking meaningful change.
Jessie specializes in substance use disorders, LGBTQ+ concerns, and neurodivergence, with a particular focus on supporting individuals who may have previously felt unseen or underserved in traditional mental health settings. As a Certified Autism Specialist, he has expanded his expertise to better serve neurodivergent clients and provide tailored therapeutic approaches that acknowledge the unique experiences and strengths of each individual. He offers both in-person counseling in Ohio City and telehealth services across Ohio and Minnesota through the counseling compact, helping clients access care in ways that fit their lives.
Before launching his private practice, Jessie served in several leadership and clinical roles throughout Ohio’s mental health community, including Clinical Director and Mental Health Clinician at Cleveland Sex and Intimacy Counseling, Mental Health Specialist at The Emily Program, and Clinical Coordinator at Oriana House, Inc.. His diverse background has allowed him to work with individuals facing complex mental health, addiction, and recovery challenges while also mentoring and supervising fellow clinicians. Jessie earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kent State University, where he developed the foundation for his client-centered and inclusive approach to care.
In addition to his clinical work, Jessie is deeply committed to advocacy and reducing barriers to affirming healthcare. One of the initiatives he is most proud of is providing sliding-scale and pro bono gender-affirming surgery letters for individuals pursuing medically necessary care. By offering these services at reduced or no cost, he strives to make mental health support and gender-affirming resources more accessible to clients who may otherwise struggle to obtain them. Through every aspect of his work, Jessie remains focused on helping people feel empowered, understood, and supported as they move toward healthier and more fulfilling lives.
• Kent State University - B.S. in Criminal Justice, 2015
• Kent State University - M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2021
• LPCC-S (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Supervisor)
• LICDC (Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor)
• CAS (Certified Autism Specialist)
• The Trevor Project
• LGBTQ Center in Cleveland
• Pro bono gender-affirming surgery letters
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Substance Use
- LGBTQ Population
- Neurodivergence
- Depression
- Anxiety
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
The world is hard enough, and I think having at least one solid person in your life that you can go to and just be unapologetically you and not have that fear of judgment - I want to be one of those people. My biggest motivator for getting into this field was my dad, who struggled with mental health and addiction and passed away in 2014. He was never in counseling, and I know that would have helped him tremendously. Growing up, I found that counseling can be super helpful. In my family, especially on my dad's side, it was all about putting stuff under the rug and appearance - he never had addiction treatment, never had counseling, it was just medication from a doctor and hope for the best, and that doesn't go well. When I worked in substance use, I encountered clients that reminded me of him very much, so it was kind of being able to see my dad and spend time with him a little bit. It's almost like I get a healing moment with it - I help them, and it helps me help them.