Leya Solis, MA, LMFT is the founder and lead clinician of Illuminate Psychotherapy®. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 12 years of clinical experience helping people overcome personal and relational challenges. Leya earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles in 2012, and she holds active therapy licenses in both California and Michigan (CA LMFT #85493 and MI LMFT #4101007456). She specializes in treating relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and trauma, and is passionate about guiding individuals and couples toward healing and personal growth.

Leya founded Illuminate Psychotherapy® in January 2020 with the vision of creating a therapeutic practice that blends clinical excellence with genuine compassion. In addition to her work with clients, she provides clinical supervision to associate therapists working toward their own licensure, demonstrating her commitment to supporting the next generation of therapists. Leya’s approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and evidence-based. She believes in empowering clients – helping you tap into your inner strengths and “illuminate” the path to a happier, more fulfilling life. Her purpose is to be a catalyst for positive change, and she strives to help people achieve greater joy, clarity, and connection in their lives and relationships.

Graduate/Post-Graduate Clinical Trainings, Workshops, & Certificates

Leya continually enhances her expertise through advanced training and professional development. Her graduate and post-graduate clinical trainings, workshops, and certifications include:

  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Psychology – Antioch University Los Angeles (2012).
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Child and Family Studies – California State University Long Beach (2009).
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – advanced training in EMDR for trauma recovery.
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) – specialized training in EFT for couples therapy.
  • Gottman Couples Therapy – completed workshops including The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work to enhance couples counseling skills.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – training in ACT to help clients build mindfulness and value-driven coping strategies.
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy – focusing on understanding and healing different “parts” of one’s inner self.
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) – training in PCIT to support healthy parent-child relationships and improve family dynamics.
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) – specialized training in TF-CBT for treating children and adults with trauma histories.

Leya is also an active member of professional organizations such as the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), staying current with the latest research and ethical standards in the field.

What is a LMFT?

A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is a mental health practitioner. They are educated and trained to help with relationship difficulties. They assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5).  LMFTs provide psychotherapeutic services to individuals, couples, families, and groups. They examine interpersonal relationships to achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments.

LMFTs are regulated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). LMFTs must have earned a master’s or doctorate degree. They need at least 3000 hours of supervised clinical experience. This is required prior to taking two rigorous board exams to become licensed.

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