Title: 1) Life Coach; 2) Founder and Psychologist
Company: 1) Autism Life Lab; 2) Psi Leka
Location: North Andover, Maine, United States
Lelia Crespo, life coach at Autism Life Lab and founder and psychologist at Psi Leka, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Healthcare Professionals for dedication, achievements, and leadership in mental health.
Ms. Crespo has built a successful career in psychology, with a specialization in treating autistic individuals through the use of therapy dogs. She has excelled as a life coach at Autism Life Lab since 2024 and has served as the founder and psychologist of Psi Leka since 2020. Psi Leka began as her web channel in Brazil, aimed at helping individuals enhance their self-esteem and overall well-being through interactions with their dogs. She launched a new initiative called Autism Life Lab in the US, which focuses on supporting autistic individuals by teaching them essential life skills, such as navigating daily tasks, using public transportation, and handling routine activities like shopping and banking. The goal of Autism Life Lab is to promote independence and prepare individuals for a future where they can manage everyday responsibilities, particularly as they transition into adulthood and eventually face the absence of their caregivers.
Ms. Crespo’s experience also includes running Lelia Crespo Private Office from 2014 to 2020, working as a psychologist at Psicomedic Clínica Médica e Psicológica from 2011 to 2014, serving as a distance tutor at Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo from 2012 to 2013, and acting as the technical coordinator and therapist at CETVIAS Centro de Equitação Terapêutica Vias Alternativas from 2008 to 2011. Additionally, she was a psychologist at Centro Dermatológico Guarapari from 2007 to 2010 and a family intervention specialist at Guarapari City Hall, Brazil, from 2007 to 2009. She also contributed as a board member for the Health Management Course at Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo from 2012 to 2013, created and instructed 152 weekly live classes on YouTube, and holds memberships with the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science. She has also been actively involved as a volunteer psychologist with Conselho Tutelar de Guarapari from 2002 to 2004. In recognition of her impressive undertakings, she has been honored with awards from the Psychology Council in Brazil and the Brazilian University.
Laying a solid educational foundation, Ms. Crespo began her journey with a voluntary therapeutic companion internship at Faculdade Metodista do Sul in 1995. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Unisinos in 1999, followed by postgraduate studies in family health program management at Faculdades Integradas de Jacarepaguá in 2008. She further pursued postgraduate coursework in hospital psychology at Universidade Veiga de Almeida in 2010. Additionally, she has earned several certifications, including “The Art of Connection: 7 Relationship-Building Skills Every Leader Needs Now” and “15 Secrets Successful People Know about Time Management,” both from LinkedIn Corporation in 2022. She is also certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator, and first aid by the National CPR Foundation. Her credentials include project management for healthcare projects from LinkedIn Corporation, and “Technologies for the Future” training with Recode in 2021. She also participated in the Empretec entrepreneurship training program with Sebrae ES in 2018, is a licensed psychologist with the Conselho Regional de Psicologia 6ª Região, and completed a basic equine therapy course at Universidade de Brasília.
Ms. Crespo attributes her success to her relentless pursuit of greater accomplishments. She takes great pride in working at a federal university in Brazil, which provided her with the opportunity to expand her curriculum and think creatively. In the coming years, she aims to establish a farm where autistic individuals can spend time in a safe and calming environment. She envisions a space where they can engage in activities like petting animals and growing plants, knowing how soothing these experiences can be. Her goal is to create a therapeutic haven where she can train animals to support and enhance the well-being of autistic individuals. This farm would serve as a sanctuary, offering a nurturing environment that promotes relaxation, connection, and personal growth.
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