LeesaMaree Bleicher advocates using trauma-informed therapeutic approaches.
More about this author
LeesaMaree Bleicher is a survivor of human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), and a lived-experience expert in complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), polyvictimization, and animal welfare. Her personal journey—from surviving incarceration, homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, complex trauma, and multiple suicide attempts to becoming a leader in trauma-informed advocacy for both youth and animals—has shaped her life’s mission: to amplify survivor voices and champion trauma-responsive, survivor-led practices across mental health, youth services, and justice systems. Her work also includes passionate advocacy for the care and protection of homeless community cats, reflecting her deep commitment to animal welfare and her belief in the healing potential of human–animal relationships.
Emancipated at age 14 after being committed to juvenile hall by her mother, Bleicher dropped out of school at 15, yet went on to earn a BA in humanities, an MA in psychology, and a CADC III (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor). She is currently pursuing a PhD in psychology, continuing a lifelong commitment to education, justice reform, and healing-centered care. With more than 25 years of experience working in addiction recovery and mental health services within jails, prisons, and community-based programs, she brings both lived and professional expertise to the field.
Bleicher has served as program director for CSEC youth, program manager for a court-mandated intervention program for youth offenders, and a leader in San Quentin’s “No More Tears” initiative. Her work integrates trauma-responsive care, compassion-based mindfulness, and animal-assisted therapeutic approaches, recognizing the profound restorative power of human–animal bonds in the recovery process. She believes that sexual and physical abuse represent deep fractures in our collective humanity and is committed to transforming pain into purpose by advocating for the healing, dignity, and protection of both people and animals who have experienced trauma.External
Thankful
Appreciating Beautiful Gifts from Children and Youth
Center for Mindfulness
This article explains that children often carry deep pain caused by adults, and they end up in foster care, jail, or programs because of trauma, not because they chose that path. Helping them means guiding them back to their inner light—their innocence, joy, and potential. Real healing comes from love, patience, and honest human connection, not strict systems or professional distance. The author shares a case of caring for an eight-year-old boy that demonstrates that kindness can ease suffering for both child and adult. When we help children, they also teach and heal us in return.
