Leonard Burns

Leonard Burns is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 35 years of experience. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, ADHD, and issues tied to identity. He also supports those coping with caregiving strain, chronic illness and disability, and challenges linked to aging or attachment problems.

His approach centers on building an honest working relationship. He believes change begins when a person feels heard and respected. Sessions focus on practical ways to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.

Leonard blends approaches to match each person’s needs. He uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and increase psychological flexibility. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is applied to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. He also draws on attachment-informed work to look at relationship patterns and meaning-based conversations influenced by existential ideas.

Clients often bring complex histories, including long-term trauma, caregiving burdens, or struggles with identity and belonging. Leonard aims to help people find steadier footing, manage symptoms, and make choices that fit their values. He acknowledges change can be hard and often messy.

He practices in California as an LMFT and conducts sessions in English. People interested in exploring intellectual disability concerns can mention that when they begin the intake process so the approach can be tailored appropriately.

How his approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values even when emotions are strong. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting and changing unhelpful thoughts and routines to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in close relationships and helps people try new ways of relating when past hurts shape current behavior.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Leonard treats therapy as a collaboration. He listens to the client’s goals and adjusts methods to fit needs, combining approaches when helpful. Over time, the pair checks whether an approach is working and shifts course as needed.

Confirm the available session formats before booking so you know how sessions are scheduled. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, shorten check-ins on hectic days, or remove travel time so a session can occur between other obligations. Many people find remote sessions help maintain continuity of care when life is unpredictable; the therapist will discuss what will make sessions practical and useful for each person.