Leslie Langbert

Leslie is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Center for Compassion Studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona. She is a lead facilitator of CBCT® (Cognitively Based Compassion Training) and other compassion training programs and workshops. Since 2014, she has led more than 200 students through the CBCT® program, including adolescents in foster care, Native American youth, transgender youth, behavioral health professionals, early childhood professionals and parents of preschoolers. She became a certified yoga instructor in 2010, receiving additional training in yoga therapy in 2012, and is a mindfulness meditation facilitator.

Leslie teaches two undergraduate courses; CHS 460- Self-Care in the Helping Professions in the Care, Health and Society major in the Department of Sociology, and SBS 301 - The Mindful Semester, open to all UArizona undergraduates through the College of SBS. She also shares compassion and mindfulness practices during the academic year with students, faculty and staff through various campus programs, and facilitates workshops, intensives and weekly practice opportunities for the community, engaging participants from across the country and internationally.

A licensed clinical social worker, Leslie has a background as a psychotherapist working with children, youth and adults, and has held leadership roles in the non-profit sector in Florida, Washington D.C. area, and New York City. She received both her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology and Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University.