Gordon Leith
Gordon Leith
(he/him)
Here's a polished version of your counseling introduction: Hello. I bring 35 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor to my practice, having worked in both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs specializing in mental health, addiction, eating disorders, and general psychiatric conditions. During my time at treatment facilities, I also maintained a private practice for 20 years. My current specialties include behavioral change, addiction treatment, communication skills, life coaching, business consulting, hypnosis, and critical incident stress debriefing and management. I have extensive experience working with federal military and safety agencies following critical incidents. My goal is simple: for you to leave each counseling session feeling better than when you arrived.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first meeting, I'll focus on understanding what brought you to counseling and what you're hoping to achieve. We'll talk about your current challenges and explore your background in a way that feels comfortable for you. I'll share how I typically approach situations like yours and explain some of the strategies and resources that have proven effective for my other clients. This isn't about diving deep into treatment yet—it's about getting to know each other and understanding your specific needs. By the end of our session, you'll have a clearer picture of what our ongoing work might look like, and we'll discuss practical next steps that feel manageable to you. Most importantly, you'll leave feeling like you've been heard and that there's a realistic path forward. This first session is about building trust and hope as you take this important step toward feeling better.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My 35 years of experience across inpatient, outpatient, and private practice settings gives me a unique perspective on what actually works for lasting change. I've seen thousands of clients through their recovery journeys, so I can quickly identify effective strategies tailored to each person's situation. What makes my approach distinctive is my focus on practical, cost-effective solutions that leverage community support systems. Many clients are surprised to discover how many powerful resources are available at no cost—I know these resources intimately and how to help you access them effectively. I specialize in working with motivated individuals who feel stuck or don't know where to start. My strength lies in taking complex challenges and breaking them down into manageable, actionable steps that build momentum toward lasting results. My work with federal agencies and critical incident situations has honed my ability to help people navigate crisis and trauma while building resilience for the future. This experience translates into practical skills for everyday stress management and major life transitions.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I specialize in helping clients with building self-esteem and confidence, overcoming depression and imposter syndrome, navigating work difficulties, and addressing addictions. I'm particularly passionate about working with motivated individuals struggling with addiction who feel lost about where to begin their recovery journey but remain open to trying new approaches. I have extensive experience with proven, cost-effective strategies that utilize community support systems. Having worked with thousands of clients facing addiction and mental health challenges, I understand both the available community resources and the counseling strategies that produce lasting results. You're an ideal fit for my practice if you're ready to make changes but need guidance on where to start, value evidence-based approaches, and are interested in leveraging community support as part of your healing process.
About Gordon Leith
Serves ages
Licensed in
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Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Primarily a cognitive behavioral therapist, I blend various therapeutic models that enhance my effectiveness in helping clients. Blended Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (B-CBT): This innovative approach combines traditional face-to-face CBT sessions with web-based self-help modules. B-CBT offers benefits from both in-person therapy and internet-based CBT, such as individual adaptation, wider availability, and potentially lower implementation barriers. Third-Wave CBT Approaches: These emerging models address perceived limitations of CBT. Examples include: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focused on accepting difficult emotions and values-based actions. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Integrates mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Metacognitive Therapy: Targets maladaptive thought processes and metacognitions. Video-based BC-CBT further improves accessibility. Similarities among these therapies and other models of counseling are Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, all of which share common therapeutic methodologies. Concepts like metacognition, acceptance, mindfulness, personal values, and spirituality are woven into these approaches.