Biography

From the beginning of my career, I have been devoted to creating spaces where women feel safe, seen, and supported.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I founded bilingual immersion schools, created and directed childcare centres, taught birth and parenting courses, and worked as a doula and midwife assistant.

Since 2015, following my own recovery from a late stage cancer diagnosis, my work has shifted toward clinical psychology, integrative therapy, research, and the development of WAVE, alongside continued humanitarian support.

Alongside my own healing, I have supported women displaced by war and natural disaster, experiences they did not choose, much like illness itself. Through this work, I have come to understand both the weight of uncertainty and the strength that can grow through vulnerability, courage, and connection.

I believe healing happens in relationship, with ourselves, with others, and with the stories we carry. I am not here to fix you. I am here to walk beside you, to hold space for what is unfolding, and to help you find your own steady ground.

May you find here a sense of peace and perspective, and the reminder that healing is possible, even in the beautiful, messy truth of everyday life.

— ✦ —

Warmly,
Leigh

Timeline

1973
I was born in the United States, in a small farming town outside Anderson, South Carolina.

1992
While working a summer job at Robert Bosch in Anderson, South Carolina, the year after high school, I met the love of my life, an intern from Germany. With deep trust and a bold leap of faith, I moved to Germany on October 19th. I still honor this date each year, as it marks a profound transition toward independence and personal wholeness.

1994
After my husband graduated from university, we married and relocated to the United States to pursue career and academic opportunities.

1996
I completed an Associate Degree in International Business through the University of Maryland European Campus, then earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Texas with a double major in Organizational Psychology and Finance. After graduation, I worked as a stockbroker and in financial recruitment in San Francisco until 1998.

1998
Before returning to Europe in the fall, where I would spend several years supporting my husband’s consulting career while beginning graduate studies in human development, I earned my first sailing certifications through the American Sailing Association in Sausalito, California.

1999
Alongside my studies, I taught English in exchange for language lessons in the countries where we lived, including France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. During this time, I became deeply focused on birth and parenting while navigating infertility and multiple miscarriages.

2000
We were living between hotels and corporate housing, often in different countries. After numerous rounds of IVF, I eagerly gave birth to my first child. Shortly before my son’s birth, we chose to settle in my husband’s hometown of Bamberg, Germany, a place I continue to call my Heimat.

2001
At a postpartum checkup, I discovered with immense joy I was unexpectedly pregnant again. My daughter was born just eleven months after my son. We remained in Bamberg while my husband continued consulting throughout Europe.

2002
I volunteered with American families connected to the local United States military base after the attack on the World Trade Center, providing childcare support during deployments. I helped establish and operate a grassroots parent cooperative preschool, hosted playgroups, became certified in infant massage, and facilitated weekly parent support groups. This period marked my first work supporting women experiencing war related emotional trauma.

2003
Trying to regain my identity as an educated professional after the birth of my children, I opened a children’s hair and photo studio called Piccolo. Although the concept was thriving elsewhere, our small town was not ready for it. The business closed within eighteen months, resulting in emotional loss and a feeling of defeat. I continued volunteering with military families throughout this period.

2004
Our family experienced profound trauma after a close friend died while visiting us from abroad. My husband was injured during a rescue attempt and could not work. During his recovery, I returned to my graduate studies and completed a degree in Academic Administration for Early Childhood Education. We prepared to relocate to the United States after I accepted a position with La Petite Academy.

2005
We moved to San Diego, California, where I led staff restructuring and program redevelopment at a large early childhood center. Later that year, I became Director of Bright Horizons at Del Mar, serving hundreds of families and leading a large teaching team until 2008/2009

2006
As an advocate of continuing education, I became certified as a birth and postpartum doula through DONA and volunteered with Hearts and Hands at UCSD Hospital, supporting women with complex mental health and social challenges. I also expanded parent education programs and opportunities at Bright Horizons, receiving a national leadership award.

2007
I led the successful accreditation of Bright Horizons at Del Mar through NAEYC. I also supported the development of German and English immersion schools, became a certified childbirth educator through ICEA, transferred my infant massage certification to IMUSA, and taught classes throughout San Diego. This year also brought deep grief with the loss of a child close to our family.

2008
I accepted a consulting role with a German and English immersion school, supporting licensing, staffing, curriculum development, and program growth, while continuing my work with families in birth and early parenting.

2010
My third child was born in January. Later that year, we relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, following my husband’s career opportunity.

2011
I continued birth and postpartum work, volunteering, and completion of my first midwifery assistant training at The Farm in Tennessee with Ina May Gaskin.

2012
My fourth child was born after a traumatic delivery that left me temporarily unable to walk. I was told I might never walk again. The following period was a season of postpartum depression and trauma recovery. Through dedicated physical, emotional, and rehabilitative care, I recovered and fulfilled my promise to hike Georgia’s tallest mountain.

2015
After a medical emergency, I was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. I underwent major surgery, intensive care, and months of recovery complicated by infection and post surgical trauma.

2016
I completed twelve rounds of chemotherapy. This period deeply impacted every member of our family emotionally, physically, and financially. My final treatment occurred on my birthday.

2017
We relocated back to Germany, where my husband and I both always felt a deep connection and sense of Heimat. After five consecutive years of what felt like endless trauma, were were seeking emotional healing, safety, and stability for our family. With our children, we moved to Berlin for a new beginning.

2019
I witnessed my two oldest children graduate from high school. I registered a small travel consultancy in Berlin, explored creative professional paths, and began reconnecting with life at and by the sea.

2020
Global travel came to a halt due to the Covid pandemic. I closed my recently established business with neither gain nor loss, and our family purchased a small house by the sea as we began to plant roots for our future.

2021
I completed German motorboat and coastal sailing certifications, purchased my 50 year old sailboat Simplicity, and began a full refit. I completed my first German boating certifications.

2022
Following the invasion of Ukraine, I returned to humanitarian work, volunteering and supporting displaced women and children. This work played a meaningful role in my personal healing. I continued sailing, logging more than 1500 nautical miles and completing a number of courses and certifications.

2024 and 2025
I completed Yachtmaster certification through ASA, logged thousands of nautical miles, crewed on an expedition vessel off Scotland, completed my first book, and wrote a Master’s dissertation after completing my studies in Psychology and Integrative Therapy in the United Kingdom. My dissertation focused on WAVE, a healing model developed from my clinical and maritime experience.

2026
In 2026, I receive my MSc Integrative Therapy, and will be focusing on the next stage of my professional work by developing WAVE beyond its academic foundations. Alongside preparing for potential PhD study and continuing with research and writing, my main focus will be on piloting WAVE and exploring how it can be introduced into real world practice.