About NextACT
NextACT was founded by Latosha D. Leonard, MS, LPC, a licensed professional counselor, educator, speaker, and community builder with more than 15 years of clinical, research, and community practice.
After years of working with individuals in transition, Latosha noticed a consistent pattern: many people who described themselves as lost or stuck were not broken. They were in the middle of change.
What they needed was not pressure or urgency. They needed language, orientation, and structure. NextACT exists to provide that.
Clinical Foundation
Latosha holds a Master of Science in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Texas. Latosha will begin doctoral study in Counselor Education at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi in Fall 2026. Her clinical work integrates evidence-based modalities, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, and DBT with holistic practices including mindfulness, Reiki, and yoga.
She holds a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification and is a trained Reiki master. She has served as a Clinical Supervisor at the St. Edward's University Community Counseling Clinic and as District V Director of the Texas Counseling Association. She is a previous Fellow of the African American Leadership Institute and received the National Alliance on Mental Illness Community Champion award in 2024 for her contributions to the Austin mental health community. As a United States Air Force veteran, Latosha brings specialized understanding of military transition, institutional culture, and the identity shifts that accompany service and reintegration.
The Middle of Change Framework
The Middle of Change is Latosha's original, proprietary framework for understanding and navigating the developmental phase of transition. It identifies the season in life where the old ways no longer fit and the new ones haven't emerged as a real, navigable, and nameable phase distinct from failure or pathology. The framework is delivered through the Middle of Change Intensive, a 90-minute guided experience built on three conditions: Regulate. Clarify. Act.
This methodology is the foundation of all NextACT programming — individual sessions, organizational engagements, professional training, and the growing Academy track.
Community Work and Advocacy
Latosha leads Monday Mindset Reset Podcast, Live with Latosha and, Sunday night restorative yoga, and three weekly community touchpoints grounded in the NextACT framework. She is a sought-after speaker for organizations, nonprofits, universities, faith communities, and professional groups. Her talks center on navigating the middle of change without urgency, shame, or self-abandonment.
Trust the process.
In a culture obsessed with 'getting to the other side,' we often overlook the value of the unfolding. Trusting the process is the practice of building capacity for uncertainty. By leaning into the transition rather than bypassing it, we move from a state of survival to one of intentional reorganization.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Middle of Change Intensive?
The Middle of Change Intensive is a 90-minute in-person guided experience built on three principles: Regulate. Clarify. Act. Participants leave with language for where they are, a calmer nervous system, clarity on what matters, and one aligned next step. It is available for individuals, helping professionals, and organizational teams. It is not therapy. It is mental health education — grounded in clinical evidence, designed for the middle of change.
How do I know if I need a workbook or a therapy session?
Our workbooks are excellent self-guided tools for "orientation" and personal reflection. However, if you find that your distress is impacting your daily functioning, or if you are navigating deep-seated grief and trauma, individual or group therapy provides the professional, clinical support and personalized intervention needed for lasting healing.
Do you work with organizations and teams?
Yes. The Middle of Change Intensive for Teams is a 90-minute in-person experience for organizations navigating change, burnout, or transition. We work with healthcare organizations, nonprofits, universities, faith communities, and women's leadership groups. Organizational engagements start at $1,500 for a pilot session. See the For Organizations page for more information or schedule a conversation.
How do I get started?
The best first step depends on where you are. If you want to understand your phase in the middle of change, take the free quiz at nextacttherapy.com/quiz. If you are ready to book a session or consultation, use the Book a Consultation button. If you represent an organization and want to bring the Middle of Change Intensive to your team, visit the For Organizations page or schedule a 20-minute conversation. There is no wrong entry point.
