Where Clinical Excellence Meets Compassionate Care

Dr. Simone Leavell-Bruce provides highly specialized psychotherapy for individuals seeking exceptional care for OCD, anxiety, trauma, and racial trauma. Her treatment philosophy blends the latest advances in psychological science with culturally responsive, individualized care, creating a therapeutic experience that is both deeply compassionate and grounded in proven clinical methods.

Dr. Leavell-Bruce earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Spalding University after completing her master’s degree and her bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychology, respectively. Her extensive clinical training spans university counseling centers, community mental health, private practice, inpatient psychiatric settings, and specialized anxiety treatment programs, providing a broad foundation for treating complex psychological concerns.

Throughout her career, Dr. Leavell-Bruce has developed specialized expertise in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, trauma, race-based stress, and culturally responsive care. She combines evidence-based interventions with a collaborative, individualized approach that helps clients move beyond symptom management toward lasting psychological wellness.

Whether you are navigating OCD, anxiety, trauma, depression, identity-related stress, or life transitions, Dr. Leavell-Bruce provides compassionate, scientifically grounded care tailored to your unique experiences and goals.

Clinical Specialties
Advanced Care for Complex Presentations
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Specialized treatment utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based interventions recognized as the gold standard for OCD.
Anxiety & Related Disorders
Comprehensive treatment for generalized anxiety, panic, phobias, perfectionism, and related conditions through evidence-based cognitive and behavioral therapies.
Race-Based Stress & Trauma

Nationally recognized expertise in the assessment and treatment of racial trauma, discrimination-related stress, and culturally responsive psychotherapy that honors each client’s lived experiences.
Psychological Assessment & Consultation
Comprehensive psychological evaluations, consultation services, and expert assessments, including evaluations related to discrimination and race-based traumatic stress.

Education, Training & Professional Leadership

Dr. Leavell-Bruce’s work reflects a longstanding commitment to advancing the science and practice of psychology. In addition to maintaining an active clinical practice, she provides consultation, professional training, and supervision for clinicians seeking advanced competency in OCD treatment and culturally responsive care. She serves as faculty for the International OCD Foundation’s prestigious Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), where she helps train therapists serving historically underserved communities. She also leads clinician seminars and consultation groups focused on evidence-based OCD treatment and racial trauma assessment.

Research & Scholarship

Dr. Leavell-Bruce’s scholarship focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder, race-based traumatic stress, multicultural mental health, and evidence-based treatment. Her doctoral dissertation examined the psychological impact of race-based trauma among Black Lives Matter activists, and her research has contributed to a growing understanding of racial trauma and culturally responsive interventions.

Publications

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for difficult-to-treat OCD presentations; ERP for those with Pedophilic Obsessions

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) protocols and considerations with OCD and comorbid depression; Obsessions of Suicide in OCD with Comorbid Depression

Considerations for providing Prologued Exposure treatment for treatment and prevention of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in African American individuals; PE for prevention and treatment of PTSD

Clinical breakdowns of six week programs for at-risk youth populations; Louisville Metro Police Department

Dr. Bruce has presented nationally through organizations including the American Psychological Association, International OCD Foundation, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Begin Your Care
Dr. Leavell-Bruce provides telehealth psychotherapy for clients seeking specialized, evidence-based treatment for OCD, anxiety, trauma, and race-based stress. Her practice combines scientific rigor, cultural humility, and individualized care to help clients achieve meaningful, lasting change.