Cecilia Leonardo
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who believes deeply in the human capacity for healing, growth, and transformation. I strive to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where individuals feel safe to explore their experiences, understand their emotions, and reconnect with their strengths.
I bring warmth, empathy, active listening, and a grounded presence to my sessions, allowing clients to feel comfortable being themselves without fear of judgment.
I work with individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use, and life transitions. I recognize that each person's story is unique, and I approach therapy with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the experiences that have shaped them. My goal is to meet you where you are, help you make sense of where you've been, and support you in moving towards the life you want to create. I believe meaningful change begins when we feel seen, heard, and empowered to understand ourselves more deeply.
First session
During our first session, my priority is to create a welcoming, safe, and non-judgmental space where you feel comfortable sharing your story at your own pace. We will explore what brings you to therapy, identify your current concerns, and begin understanding the experiences and patterns that may be impacting your emotional well-being. I also want to learn what your strengths, goals and what you hope to gain from therapy. Together, we will begin developing a collaborative path toward healing, growth, and meaningful change. I hope you leave our first session feeling heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. My goal is for you to feel a sense of relief in knowing that you don't have to navigate life's challenges alone. I want you to leave with hope, a greater sense of possibility, and the reassurance that therapy is a space where you can show up authentically, explore difficult emotions, and move toward positive change at your own pace.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a genuine, compassionate, and collaborative therapeutic relationship. I bring warmth, empathy, active listening, and a grounded presence to my sessions, allowing clients to feel comfortable being themselves without fear of judgment. I am a Somatic therapist by training, and my approach integrates evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with somatic-informed techniques that help clients develop a deeper awareness of the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and physical experience. I recognize that our bodies can hold and communicate experiences that are sometimes difficult to put into words. Through somatic awareness, mindfulness, and grounding techniques, I support clients in developing greater emotional regulation, reconnecting with themselves, and building a stronger sense of safety within their bodies. My clinical experience working with trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use has strengthened my ability to help clients identify patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, build resilience, and create meaningful changes in their lives. I believe in balancing compassion with empowerment. I will meet you with understanding while gently encouraging you to explore new perspectives, recognize your strengths, and move beyond patterns that may no longer serve you. Above all, I bring the belief that healing is not a linear process, growth is possible, and every person deserves the opportunity to feel more connected, empowered and fulfilled.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who may be feeling overwhelmed by life experiences, struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or navigating life transitions. I am especially passionate about supporting clients who have experienced trauma and are looking to reconnect with themselves, build emotional resilience, and create meaningful change. My approach integrates evidence-based interventions, including CBT, with somatic techniques to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions and body. I welcome clients wherever they are in their journey, whether they are seeking support through a difficult season or looking to deepen their personal growth and self-discovery. My goal is to create a warm, compassionate, and non judgemental space where clients feel heard, supported, and empowered to move toward lasting change.
Treatment methods
Somatic
Through somatic approaches, I help clients develop greater awareness of the connection between their emotions and physical experiences (your body). We explore how stress and trauma can show up in the body while incorporating grounding, mindfulness, and body-based techniques to support emotional regulation and a greater sense of self. In addition, I used CBT and help clients identify and understand thought patterns and beliefs that may contribute to emotional distress or unhelpful behaviors. Together, we work toward developing healthier perspectives, strengthening coping strategies, and creating meaningful behavioral changes.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Asian / Asian American
Woman
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Addiction / Substance Use
Attachment Issues
Burnout
Career Counseling
Childhood / Intergenerational Trauma
Couples Counseling
Eating Disorders
Family Conflict
Life Transitions
Loneliness / Isolation
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Couples Counseling
Elders (65 and above)
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Licensed in
California