Leslie Collins, M.A., Founder coachleslie44@gmail
Your Self-talk matters: Shift Your Thoughts, Your Focus, Your Life
an on-demand 24/7 mental wellness app for 20 something's
our vision and mission
Our Vision: To awaken a generation to the power of their own inner wisdom — helping people of all ages reconnect with their deepest guidance, transform the way they speak to themselves, and experience life with more clarity, confidence, and ease.
Our Mission: to break the cycle of needless anxiety and self-doubt by empowering young adults, teaching them how to tune into their inner wisdom, regulate their emotions, and transform their self-talk into a source of strength. Through evidence-based practices, micro-meditations, and intuitive self-guidance tools, YSTM helps people reconnect with themselves, reduce suffering, and navigate life with greater peace, purpose, and personal power.
mental wellness meets emotional fitness
Your Self-Talk Matters is the only wellness platform that blends neuroscience, mindfulness, and intuitive self-guidance into a simple, evidence-informed system for transforming your self-talk. Unlike traditional meditation apps that focus on general calm or relaxation, Your Self-Talk Matters teaches you how to access your inner clarity, shift limiting patterns, and build emotional resilience in just a few minutes a day. You’re not just listening — you’re learning how to think, feel, and respond differently in real time.
We go beyond symptom relief by giving you practical tools to actually change the conversation you’re having with yourself, the one shaping your confidence, your decisions, your energy, and your entire experience of life. We combine the rigor of brain science with the intuitive wisdom of your own inner GPS, helping you strengthen focus, reduce anxiety, and reconnect with your inner guidance so you can move through life with more purpose, ease, and self-trust.
The #1 Challenge: Anxety & Chronic Stress
What’s happening: Young adults report the highest anxiety levels of any adult age group, driven by uncertainty, performance pressure, and constant stimulation.
Key findings:
Anxiety disorders peak in early adulthood
Many report feeling “on edge” most days, even without a clear trigger
Stress is increasingly baseline, not situational
Research sources:
American Psychological Association (APA), Stress in America reports (2019–2024)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Anxiety prevalence data
#2 Decision Fatigue and Life Direction Uncertainty
Young people feel a tremendous amount of pressure to have all the answers when all too often they feel like they don't know what they're doing.
What’s happening: 20-somethings face more choices than any prior generation, with fewer stable reference points.
Key findings:
- High levels of decision fatigue and second-guessing
- Fear of “making the wrong choice” contributes to paralysis
- Uncertainty strongly linked to anxiety and burnout
Research sources:
- Baumeister et al., Decision fatigue research
- APA studies on emerging adulthood
- Arnett, Emerging Adulthood Theory
#3 Digital Overstimulation & Attention Fragmentation is also a top challenge
What’s happening: Constant smartphone use is reshaping attention, emotion regulation, and self-concept—especially in young adults.
Key findings:
- Heavy phone use correlates with higher anxiety and poorer focus
- Frequent context switching increases stress hormones
- Reduced capacity for sustained attention and reflection
Research sources:
- Rosen et al., Computers in Human Behavior
- APA research on attention and multitasking
- Stanford & MIT media cognition studies
#4 Negative Self-Talk, Rumination & Self-Criticism
What’s happening: 20-somethings show elevated internalized pressure and self-blame, often turning stress inward as harsh self-talk.
Key findings:
- High correlation between self-criticism and anxiety/depression
- Rumination predicts worsening mental health more strongly than external stressors
- Self-talk patterns formed in this decade tend to persist long-term
Research sources:
- Nolen-Hoeksema, Rumination Theory
- Neff & Germer, Self-Compassion research
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) meta-analyses
we are committed to empowering young adults from the inside-out!
Your Self-Talk Matters is an empowerment tool for 20 smethings that's available on demand, with 24/7 access to improve your mindset & emotional wellbeing, for example:
- Improved focus & concentration
- Reduced stress
- Better sleep quality
- Greater ability to manage one’s emotions
- Enhanced feelings of wellbeing
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved social & emotional skills that can improve relationships
How YSTM Helps 20 somethings
YSTM helps young adults break that cycle. It gives them instant, private, 24/7 access to evidence-based tools that:
- Reduce anxiety and overwhelm in the moment
- Build confidence and emotional resilience over time
- Improve focus, motivation, and academic performance
- Create a kinder, more empowering inner dialogue
- Foster a sense of control, clarity, and hope
It’s like having a personal mental health toolkit in your pocket, ready whenever you need it—whether that’s before a big test, after a tough conversation, or in the middle of a lonely night.
Let's Connect!
Leslie Collins, M.A., Founder of Your Self-Talk Matters
Leslie Collins, M.A., earned her master’s degree in Psychology from Antioch University, is a Deepak Chopra–certified Meditation Instructor, & has years of experience as both a licensed massage therapist & psychotherapist. She created Your Self-Talk Matters (YSTM) to empower young adults (18–28) with practical tools & mindset skills to navigate life with more confidence and less anxiety. Think of YSTM as a roadmap to life—one that reveals the “rules of the road” so they’re no longer a mystery.
Please reach out!
coachleslie44@gmail.com @lesliecollinsmindfulness (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliemcollins https://www.facebook.com/leslie.marie.collins1 Vendor (Sub-Contractor) at TIPS Purchasing System (Co-op)
“Leslie has a unique gift for helping people reconnect with their inner strength. Her micro-meditations and mindset tools have helped me feel calmer, more centered, and more confident navigating stressful moments in my own life. I can only imagine how powerful this will be for college students.”
Casey Levy, Interior Designer & Recent NYU Grad
"Leslie is wonderful." "“What Leslie is creating is more than an app—it’s a toolkit for inner well-being. Her content is encouraging, grounded, and full of heart. If students have access to this kind of support, it could change how they experience college—emotionally and academically.”
Kim Dent, Principal - Kim Dent Design, Meditation Enthusiast
"leslie is incredibly knowledgable about what she teaches. She has managed to get my daughter to slow down & take a more objective look at how she treats herself & others & she's now more open & optimistic about her future. My daughter's definitely more positive & has changed for the better!"
Chris Morgan, Accountant and Mom
“I’ve watched Leslie develop her student-focused tools over the past two years, and what stands out is how practical and relatable they are. She truly understands the emotional landscape of young adults, and her tools give students the emotional language and support they’re often missing.”
Josephine Chung, Ph.D., ADHD Coach, Educator & Parent
“I’ve had the privilege of seeing Leslie’s dedication & vision behind Your Self-Talk Matters. She brings years of mindfulness expertise & deep compassion into everything she creates. Any university that adopts this program will be giving their students powerful tools that extend far beyond college."
Paul Collins, Head of Strategy & Innovation, Elmwood Brands