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LMFT

Leonard Burns, LMFT

  • Experience35 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Relationship
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Leonard

Leonard Burns is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 35 years of clinical experience in California, offering help for concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and ADHD.

Background and approach

He draws on a broad background that blends family systems, psychodynamic perspectives, and trauma-focused techniques to guide people through difficult transitions and complex emotional challenges. Burns emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for meaningful change, believing that honesty and trust between therapist and client create the conditions for growth.

His practice experience includes work with complex PTSD, anxiety disorders, cancer survivorship, identity-related distress, and the practical struggles that come with life changes. He frames therapy as a collaborative commitment and offers steady support while helping clients build skills and tolerance for difficult feelings.

Throughout his career he has integrated evidence-based methods with an individualized, human-centered stance. Leonard’s approach is informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-based work, Client-Centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and existential ideas, providing both practical tools and space for deeper reflection.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and take committed action while learning to relate differently to difficult thoughts and emotions; it can be useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, offering concrete strategies for stress, insomnia, and mood struggles. Attachment-Based Therapy examines relational patterns formed in early life and how they affect current connections, which can be especially helpful for intimacy and relationship concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work. The therapist collaborates with each person to determine which methods and techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan over time as progress unfolds. This collaborative stance helps tailor interventions so they feel both practical and personally meaningful.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and styles of communication. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access sessions from varied locations, and choose the interaction mode that feels most comfortable while engaging in evidence-informed therapeutic work.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, depression, and ADHD among other challenges.
How would you describe the therapeutic style and approach?
The practice centers on a strong, honest relationship and integrates family systems, psychodynamic ideas, and trauma-informed techniques alongside therapies like ACT and CBT.
What level of experience does the therapist bring?
He has 35 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of concerns, including complex PTSD, anxiety, and cancer survivorship.
What are the therapist's credentials and where is he located?
He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA LMFT 25369, and practices in California.
In which languages can sessions be conducted and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are available in English only, and he is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered for online work?
Available session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How is pricing handled for therapy with this clinician?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with this therapist?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGrief

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryVisually impairedWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Jungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English

What Leonard can help with

Leonard Burns works with clients on stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and grief.

Leonard works with clients recovering from complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.

How Leonard approaches therapy

Leonard's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Jungian Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy.

Experience and training

Leonard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California, with 35 years of clinical experience.