Leonard Burns, LMFT

California · 35 years in practice

Leonard Burns is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 35 years of clinical experience in California.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 25369 · expires May 2027
NPI: 1780759134 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 35
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Leonard

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, trauma and abuse, relationship struggles, grief, addictions, issues around intimacy and self-esteem, and parenting concerns. He also supports those coping with chronic illness, caregiver strain, and the effects of major life changes.

He favors a straightforward, relational style. He focuses on building an honest connection first, then works with each person to set realistic goals.

Background and approach

Sessions are conversational and practical, often combining talk therapy with structured tools to manage symptoms day to day. Leonard’s background blends family systems thinking, psychodynamic ideas, and EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - as part of his toolkit. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques when they fit the client’s goals.

He adapts methods to each person rather than following one fixed path. Clients can expect a calm, patient presence aimed at helping them tolerate hard feelings and take effective steps forward. He emphasizes understanding patterns in relationships and attachment, and then practicing new ways of relating and coping.

Leonard speaks English and practices in California as an LMFT. For people who prefer remote options, he offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Getting started involves completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a time that fits the client’s needs.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Leonard lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Addictions
LGBT
Intimacy-related issues
Sleeping disorders
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Depression
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Aging and geriatric issues
Attachment issues
Avoidant personality
Blended family issues
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Guilt and shame
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Infidelity
Intellectual disability
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Personality disorders
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Traumatic brain injury
Visually impaired
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches Leonard names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approaches to change offered online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing painful thoughts and feelings without fighting them and committing to actions that reflect personal values. It can help people stuck in avoidance, struggling with anxiety, or facing major life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and teaches specific skills to reduce symptoms like worry and depression. It is useful for anxiety, sleep problems, and low mood. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationship patterns shape current connections and emotional responses, helping clients who want to change how they relate to others.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Leonard will talk with each person about their needs, history, and goals, and then suggest which methods to try first. Decisions are collaborative and can shift as progress is made or new issues emerge.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions work when bandwidth or camera use is difficult. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to check in between sessions or have shorter, focused conversations. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to continue work during life transitions.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Leonard address?

He works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, sleep problems, ADHD, and related concerns such as caregiver stress and chronic illness.

What is his therapeutic style?

He emphasizes a direct, relational approach that begins with building a strong, honest connection and then uses practical tools to help clients meet goals.

How much experience does he have?

He has 35 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California.

What are his credentials and location?

He is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - and practices in California.

In which languages are sessions offered?

Sessions are offered in English only.

What session formats are available?

He provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and preferences.

How does pricing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Choose the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

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