About Dr. Leslie (Blevins) Hayward

Pediatric Psychologist

I love working with parents, kids, and autistic adults. When I reflect on what draws me to do my best work with these groups, I realize I have a sense of shared struggle and joy with each one. I’d like to share with you why I’m choosing you to specialize my practice. Below my story, you’ll get the usual educational info that tells you about my training.

My path from Alabama to Washington

My childhood in rural Alabama was riddled with hardships related to poverty and trauma, much like some of the clients with which I work. A thought developed in me as I grew up which said I probably didn’t know how to be a parent and if I had kids I might do them a disservice by being their parent. My career trajectory was fueled by a need to feel secure that I could offer something positive in the lives of children. My training has truly alleviated that anxiety and reduced the shame I have that I won’t be good enough. I see parents every week who struggle with that same lack of confidence, due to a variety of reasons all their own. I want to give them, and you, the same gift I received through validation, skills training, and a pathway to feeling successful. I also want, more than anything, for our work together to lead to your child feeling confident and being successful. However, your journey is different than mine. You’ll likely have different beliefs about yourself, your child, and your capacities. My training has prepared me to deal with that variety, and I enjoy the challenge and insight of journeying with you to create treatments for you and your child to help your family live out your values.

During my training I fell in love with ABA therapy and learned to apply it to socially significant problems outside the norm of autism: young child behavior problems, sleep difficulties, noncompliance, anxiety (social and separation), and organization and executive function issues that can lead to school failure. I have also used my ABA skills with adults to address treatment motivation, chronic pain, smoking cessation, weight loss, etc. Then I learned ACT, which completed a puzzle for me by helping me better understand behavior, motivation, internal rules we structure our lives by, and mostly: how to live a life by design. I am not just a clinician, but a user of ACT. Any chains that remained of childhood trauma, or stress from working in medical agencies, or managing migraines, was suddenly thoughtfully reduced. I learned to say no to scary bosses, and feel good about it. I started my own private practice that centers on my values and allows me the daily schedule that helps reduce my chronic migraines and increase my joy. This lived experience in developing self-compassion drives me to help parents and children find self-compassion for themselves in whatever situation they are in.

A core feature of my practice is PCIT, or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, which I find follows the tenants of good behavior management while helping parents to develop self-compassion and good insight into child development. It is a joy to use this methodology as a foundation with the families I serve and in combination with ABA and ACT. I believe it helps make my families’ goals reach fruition more efficiently and with greater self-compassion. I’m truly so happy to be doing this work each day and helping children and parents to feel better and live the lives they want for themselves.

Dr. Hayward is a volunteer Behavioral Consultant for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and a Psychotherapy Community Consultant for the Psychiatry Residency Spokane program through the University of Washington School of Medicine. She regularly provides in-person lectures and requested talks to community groups, with past talks given to Guardian ad Litems of Washington state, the Spokane Family Medicine and Psychiatry Residency programs of the University of Washington School of Medicine, and various parent and teacher-led organizations.

My Story

Again, my path won’t be your path. The awesome part of doing therapy with the approaches I believe in is that they are designed to bring out your best.

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Child Psychologist Spokane WA

My Training

Dr. Hayward is a psychologist specializing in school psychology, Parent Training, autism assessment and treatment, child neuropsychological testing, young child counseling, and physician wellness. She is a BCBA-D and uses a behavioral approach that works well for young children, toddlers, and preschoolers, as well as people of all ages who have health concerns or developmental disabilities. This approach is well suited to parent training because it helps bring concrete skills together with abstract developmental and mental health concepts. Through her school psychology training, she has worked extensively in collaborative settings with parents, teachers, preschools, day centers, alternative schools, and with related care givers to support the best outcomes for children and their families. Her training includes a strong values focus, through ACT, and she enjoys helping families meet their health and well-being goals. Because of her love for combining mental health with medical health to achieve the best results, she also enjoys supporting medical professionals to maximize their wellness.

Dr. Hayward is originally from Alabama and studied psychology at Northeastern University in Boston. She served in the Americorps program Teach for America in Baton Rouge for two years, developing a passion for helping youth who have learning and neurodevelopmental difficulties. After completing her national service, she worked with the Louisiana Department of Education on the research team supporting innovative school-turnaround programs through facilitating principal mentorship and obtaining statewide stakeholder support. This experience drove her desire to deepen her understanding of evidence-based practices and using them to better children’s lives.

Dr. Hayward obtained her PhD and masters degrees in school psychology from the University of Georgia. Her research focused on reading behavior using eye tracking and supporting teachers in using the internet to choose evidence-based practices to improve students’ reading. While at UGA she completed numerous practicums, working in schools, private practice, and university clinics. She served as a behavioral teacher’s aide in the UGA Center for Autism and Behavioral Education Research’s model classroom in a local public elementary school. She earned the Board Certification in Applied Behavior Analysis, i.e., BCBA, which is commonly used with people with autism, developmental delays, and young children.

Dr. Hayward internship and postdoctoral training focused on primary care in rural settings. Her internship was at the Munroe-Meyer Institute in Nebraska within a pediatric primary care practice. She received postdoctoral training in the central valley of Washington within a family practice setting, working with both pediatrics and adults.

Dr. Hayward currently serves as a psychotherapy community consultant for the Psychiatry Residency Spokane program through the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Dr. Hayward’s seven years in Washington has been filled with amazing people, adventures, and natural beauty. She has enjoyed learning to ski, playing in the snow, and seeing bears and moose. She set her practice in Spokane to allow her to stay in this beautiful part of the country and continue working with her Washington neighbors._

A rainbow in the sunset over Spokane

Dr. Hayward provides free 15-minute phone consultations. If you’re ready to reach out, see if your family’s needs are a good fit for Dr. Hayward’s services, start below.