About Sheila Leskinen

I had this brainstorm as I was thinking of retirement and leaving my private practice in Anchorage, AK and moving to Yakima, WA to retire.  I realized how much I enjoyed working with adult children of alcoholics and was not ready yet to leave something that brought me so much joy.  I then heard of coaching (which I had been doing for a number of years in my private practice) and thus Empowering ACOA's was born.  I have led hundreds of adult children of alcoholics to limitless choices and new perspectives on what they grew up with.  I finished training as an Addiction Counselor in 1980, working with the recovering addict initially and some with families.  I wanted more for the families—and I went for additional intense training in families. 

My heart went out to the children that lived with the inconsistency and uncertainty that often times happens with addicted families and who can carry these effects into their adult lives. In 1985, I designed and led a program for Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA’s). This blossomed into a bi-annual group with a follow-up group for two years. The joy of encouraging ACOA’s to find a new lease on life that included personal joy, power, and choices they never knew they had.

After working in the addiction field for a number of years I returned to school to become a Marriage & Family Therapist with my specialty in addiction. This included interventions, individual & couple counseling, ACOA 8 week classes, and an ongoing ACOA group.

Now in retirement, I still have the energy & desire to coach Adult Children of Alcoholics to have the freedom of choice, personal growth, and the relationships they want & deserve. I too have been on the personal journey to freedom & joy.

Certifications & Training:

• Certified Addiction Counselor Training 1980
• Hazelden Family Program 1981
• Training in Marriage & Family Therapy 1999
• BA in Addictions & Families
• MS in Human Services

Memberships:

• National Association for Addiction Professionals
• National Association for Children of Alcoholics
• International Coach Federation

My Logo:
    The caterpillar & the butterfly symbolize the marked change of character, appearance,
    or  condition that physically is experienced through the metamorphosis.