About Leila Zwelling, LCSW PMH-C
Before becoming a psychotherapist, I worked in journalism until I realized I didn’t want to just hear people’s stories, I wanted to actively help them improve their lives.
As a licensed therapist, clinical social worker and certified perinatal mental health provider, I have more than 20 years of experience in women’s mental health. My practice focuses on women navigating challenges during the reproductive years, including fertility issues and loss, family-building, pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders, and trauma. I’m passionate about helping my clients get through the hard times so they can enjoy life again.
My approach is interpersonal, trauma-informed, and draws from my advanced training in multiple evidence-based psychotherapy models.
See below for more details about my background, experience, and the therapy models I most frequently use.
Credentials
-
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
-
Associate Clinical Professor
University of California, San Francisco
-
Certified Perinatal Mental Health Provider
Postpartum Support International
-
Certified Trainer & Supervisor
International Society for Interpersonal Psychotherapy
-
Excellence in Teaching Award
UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators
-
Former Director
Women’s Mental Health Program, San Francisco VA Medical Center
-
Chapter Co-Author
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adults: Comprehensive Textbook of Psychotherapy, Oxford University Press
-
Social Work Master's Degree
San Francisco State University
-
Bachelor's Degree
University of Virginia
I have advanced training in multiple psychotherapy models including:
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Infant-Parent Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Mindfulness Approach
Selected Publications
Croswell, K., Zwelling, L., Clougherty, K., Hinrichsen, G. (2018). VHA Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression (IPT-D) Interactive Training. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.tms.va.gov
Tong, H., Zwelling, L., Doughan, J. (2017). Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Practice: Working with Depressed Adults in L.E. Beutler, A.J. Consoli & B. Bongar (Eds.), Comprehensive Textbook of Psychotherapy (Second Edition), Oxford University Press.
Delany-Brumsey, A., Campbell, K., Ratner, J., Baughn, D., Zwelling, L., Hasser, C. (2013). Utilization of Integrated Behavioral Health Services at the San Francisco VA Medical Center Women's Clinic. Poster presented at the annual VA Psychology Leadership Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Zwelling, L., Roney, S., Morguelan, A. (2004). Availability of Services for Families of LGBT Youth. San Francisco State University: Family Acceptance Project.
