“Dr. Leslie is a therapist that you go to if you really want to change, improve yourself and your situation.  She is bright, tough and empathetic all at the same time.  She is terrific! Want to get well, Contact Dr. Leslie.” 
-A healthier Joanne C.

 



 

Biography

Leslie Seppinni is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and Doctor of Clinical Psychology practicing in Beverly Hills, CA.  Dr. Seppinni earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and received her master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Southern California (USC). While practicing as a licensed marriage and family therapist, Dr. Seppinni earned her doctoral degree from Ryokan Psychology College.
 
Dr. Seppinni spent seven years working with and teaching emotionally turbulent adolescents and their families.  She also worked with chronically mentally ill adults, the developmentally disabled, and the elderly.  Dr. Seppinni worked extensively as a program consultant and served as a private conservator.

As a crisis intervention specialist, she held staff privileges at several renowned hospitals such as UCLA/Santa Monica hospitals, Sherman Oaks Hospital, Mission Community Hospital, Van Nuys Psychiatric Hospital, Hollywood Community Hospital and Pinegrove Hospital.  During her years as a crisis intervention specialist Dr. Seppinni assisted the Los Angeles Police, out of state Police departments and FBI.

Her experience supporting her closest friend through weight loss surgery (WLS) led her to write her doctoral dissertation Compulsive Overeating to Regulate Depressive Affect that included a complete case study of a weight loss patient.  Additionally, Dr. Seppinni has interviewed several hundred post-operative WLS patients from across the United States and for use in her book related to the emotional affects of rapid high weight loss and weight loss surgery. 

In addition to counseling WLS patients, Dr. Seppinni specializes in weight loss coaching, solution-focused therapy, and psychodynamic therapy for families, couples, individuals and adolescents.

Dr. Seppinni is also the founder of Excuse Free, Inc., which utilizes her no-nonsense approach to counseling psychology, crisis intervention and life coaching to work through life’s challenges.

Dr. Seppinni has written materials for, trained and coached psychology interns and agencies regarding mediation, needs assessment, crisis intervention and crisis management. Equally, she has co-authored and co-edited the MFT Licensing exam seminar-training manual Legal and Ethical Mandates. As a public speaker, Dr. Seppinni originated and facilitated workshops on: Team Building; Stress Management; Behavior Modification; Problem Solving Strategies and Employee Productivity; Emotional Issues related to Obesity and Compulsive Overeating; How to Support a Spouse After Weight Loss Surgery; Expect the Unexpected: Identifying New Coping Strategies, When Thin is Too Thin: Anorexia and Bulimia in the Weight Loss Surgery Patient, and The New Me.  Dr. Seppinni is currently author of Ask the Psychologist, a bimonthly column that is featured in Obesity Help Magazine since early 2005.  She has published articles in both Obesity Help Magazine and Bariatrics Today.  Dr. Seppinni conducts seminars for the Learning Annex, Los Angeles.
           

Affliations

UCLA and USC Alumni Associations,
California Association of Marriage Family Therapists
American Psychological Association, Affiliate Member
Dr. Ralph Bunche Scholarship, UCLA, Committee
American Society of Bariatric Physicians, Professional Member
American Obesity Association and Professional
North American Association for the study of Obesity: Allied Member
American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).

 

"Dr. Seppinni’s Excuse Free Living philosophy is not just talk but real problem-solving.  She developed a personalized plan to help me figure out my passion, create a foundation from which to begin and concrete goals to get there.” 
-Miranda P.

   
 

“With Dr. Seppinni’s surgical weight loss support group, I have been able to make a connection between my binge eating after weight loss surgery and how I cope with feelings.  For the first time I have emotional coping strategies in place of turning to food.”  -Lyle J.

   

“For the first time, I feel like I belong.  Because of Dr. Seppinni’s weight loss counseling, I can finally look at myself in the mirror with pride.”
 -Perry S.

© 2006 Excuse Free Living All rights reserved.