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 support individuals who feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges and are seeking compassionate, affirming care. Based in Cleveland, Jessie brings nearly a decade of experience in counseling, clinical supervision, and mental health treatment, working with adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds. Inspired by both the resilience found in nature and the human capacity for growth, he built his practice around authenticity, accessibility, and meaningful therapeutic connection. Through both in-person counseling in Ohio City and telehealth services across Ohio and Minnesota through the counseling compact, Jessie strives to make mental health care more approachable and supportive for every client he serves.
Jessie specializes in substance use disorders, LGBTQ+ concerns, and neurodivergence, with a strong focus on helping individuals who may have previously felt unseen or underserved in traditional mental health environments. As a Certified Autism Specialist, he has expanded his expertise to better understand and support neurodivergent clients through personalized therapeutic approaches that recognize each individual’s strengths, experiences, and goals. His work emphasizes creating a safe, inclusive environment where clients can feel understood, empowered, and capable of lasting change.
Prior to launching his private practice, Jessie held several leadership and clinical positions throughout Ohio’s mental health community. His professional experience includes serving as 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. These roles allowed him to work closely 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 client-centered philosophy that continues to guide his work today.
In addition to his clinical practice, 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 helps expand access to mental health support and gender-affirming resources for clients who may otherwise face financial or systemic obstacles. Through every aspect of his work, Jessie remains dedicated to helping people feel valued, supported, and empowered 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 focusing on 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 help him through others.