Leonard Burns, LMFT

Leonard Burns is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 35 years of clinical experience in California. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, and the questions that come up during midlife transitions. He also supports people managing trauma and abuse, caregiving strain, chronic illness, ADHD, and concerns related to identity and LGBT matters.

Leonard centers the work on building a straightforward, honest relationship. He believes real change begins when a client feels they can speak openly and be heard. Sessions focus on practical steps as well as understanding the patterns behind difficult feelings and behaviors.

His background blends family systems thinking, psychodynamic ideas, and trauma work, applied across many years with diverse clients. Leonard draws from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based work, Client-Centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Existential perspectives to tailor care to each person’s needs.

In therapy he balances practical tools with exploration of meaning and values. He helps people notice habits that keep them stuck, practice different responses, and clarify what matters most. He also offers support for complex trauma recovery and for people adjusting to major life changes like illness or caregiving roles.

Leonard describes therapy as a joint effort. He invites clients who are ready to commit to the work to take steps forward, and he aims to be a steady presence along the way.

How Leonard’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take small, committed steps toward them. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and navigating life changes by teaching practical exercises to reduce avoidance and build meaningful routines. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns. It helps people notice their emotional responses and try new ways of relating when old patterns cause pain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Leonard will talk with each client about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide whether to focus on values and action, relationship patterns, or a mix of methods drawn from CBT and existential ideas.

Confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people keep continuity of care when life events make in-person visits difficult. If you plan to try online sessions, discuss how to structure them so they work with your schedule and needs.