Leslie Keenaghan is Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW),  Positive Performance Certified Mental Performance Coach and Performance Visualization Specialist, and owner of HIGHER RHODE Wellness.  In addition, she is co-owner of Balsam Lotus Healing + Wellness, where she is also a practicing therapist. Leslie is a licensed therapist in the state of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Leslie’s diverse background combines her deep expertise in mental health and coaching to provide a holistic approach to well-being. She earned her coaching certification through the Positive Performance Mindset Coach Academy in 2024, bringing a unique blend of therapeutic care and performance coaching to her clients. Leslie holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of New England (2021) and a Master of Education (MEd.) from the University of New Hampshire (2003). She also earned her Bachelor's degree in Family Studies and Child Development from UNH in 2002.

With her extensive experience as both a therapist and a coach, Leslie is deeply committed to helping individuals and athletes build mental resilience, emotional clarity, and personal growth to thrive in both life and performance.  As a therapist, she specializes in working with individuals who have anxiety, OCD and eating disorders.  In addition, she enjoys working with clients who are navigating daily life stressors, offering them actionable steps to improve their quality of life.  As a coach, Leslie specializes in helping student-athletes build their confidence and belief system, learn ways to bounce back from mistakes and evaluate their performance without judgment so that they can be the best competitor in and out of their playing arena.  

HIGHER RHODE Wellness is the culmination of Leslie’s 20+ years of experience as an athlete, teacher, coach, therapist, and mom. Her deep passion for mental wellness, coupled with her love for sports, has shaped her unique approach to helping individuals thrive. Drawing from her background in coaching and therapy, Leslie blends the principles of emotional regulation, mental strength, and holistic well-being to guide clients toward success.

With a strong foundation in both therapeutic care and the mental side of athletics, Leslie’s approach is designed to support ALL individuals facing life’s challenges, in developing resilience, self-confidence, and emotional strength and understanding. Her passion for combining therapy, sports, and well-being has come to life through HIGHER RHODE Wellness—creating a space where clients can build the mental strength to excel in every area of their lives. Whether it’s navigating transitions, managing stress and anxiety or improving performance, Leslie’s vision is to help every client achieve their fullest potential, in all aspects of their life.