Andrew Leonard, LCSW

Andrew Leonard is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Virginia with more than 26 years of experience. He focuses on practical help for common life problems. He aims to make the first conversation easy and straightforward for people who are stressed or overwhelmed.

He helps people manage anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship or family difficulties. He also works with concerns such as grief, trauma and abuse, addiction, and problems with sleep and intimacy. His practice includes support around parenting challenges, anger, career transitions, and coping with big life changes.

Andrew draws on several approaches in his work. He often uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. He also uses client-centered methods that prioritize each person's goals and pace. For trauma-related concerns he can include EMDR-informed work when appropriate.

Sessions are conversational and goal-focused. Andrew aims to build a working relationship first, then move to practical steps clients can use between meetings. He pays attention to communication patterns and life circumstances that keep problems going, and looks for small changes that make daily life easier.

People who choose him can expect clear explanations, straightforward strategies, and a collaborative plan. The emphasis is on skills that fit day-to-day life and on steady progress toward the goals the client sets.

Approaches and how online therapy can help

Andrew commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot unhelpful thought patterns and try different behaviors that change how they feel. CBT is often useful for anxiety, mood struggles, and problems with sleep or daily functioning. He also uses client-centered work that focuses on the person's goals and pace, offering a supportive space to talk and map next steps. For trauma-related concerns he may incorporate EMDR-informed techniques to address distressing memories and reduce their hold on daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit best with their goals, comfort level, and life demands. That means trying a method, checking how it feels, and adjusting the plan together as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video is useful for longer therapy sessions and visual cues, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can suit short check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options help people fit therapy into busy days and keep continuity when schedules change.