Howard Leonard, Ph.D.
Managing Partner- Psychotherapy for adults of all ages and adolescents
- Couple and marital counseling
- Sexual orientation, gender identity and sex therapy
- Depression, anxiety and grief therapy
Orientation
Dr. Leonard provides individual and couple psychotherapy for a variety of concerns including relationship problems, life transitions, grief, GLBTQ issues, sexual concerns, depression, anxiety, alienation, decision making, career and work place issues, and isolation. He has worked with adults of all ages and with adolescents since the late 1970’s. Dr. Leonard is active in the session, providing feedback and guidance to help his client’s progress toward the goals they bring to the appointment. He believes each session should result in a feeling of support and understanding, and hopefully encouragement, insight and movement. He considers psychotherapy to be a relationship based on trust and mutual respect and he brings commitment and organization to each session. Dr. Leonard is in the office Monday through Friday starting at 9 AM and ending in the middle to late afternoon.
Background
I’m not sure where I even heard the word, but at the age of eight I decided that I wanted to be a psychologist. Having such a clear goal certainly made it easier to get through college and graduate school. In fact, I was so directed that I completed all the requirements for my PhD in Clinical Psychology at the age of 25.
I was raised in a suburb of Boston, and completed my public school education, college and graduate school in Southern California. I went to college at the University of California, Irvine, where I received a B.A. in Social Ecology, followed by my Masters and Doctoral degrees at a private college in San Diego, now called Alliant International University. While in graduate school, I also worked in community mental health, school psychology and in the Counseling Center at the University of California, San Diego.
Following my PhD, 1 I took a position as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at a rural campus of the State University of New York. While teaching, I also had my first exposure to private practice, where I worked with adults, teens and couples along side other psychologists. Although I was offered a tenure track position at several colleges, in 1983 I decided that I wanted to dig roots in a more urban area and that I preferred to focus my career on clinical practice. So with no job and knowing no one in Washington State, I moved to Seattle and opened the practice that I still maintain. While developing my practice here, I continued to teach part time, and I worked in community psychology and adolescent substance abuse. In more recent years, I have focused solely on clinical practice.
As the insurance industry complicated clinical practice, I pulled together a number of other providers and began to discuss opening a joint practice. After several years of conversation, we formed Associates In Behavioral Health in 1992, a practice of independent psychologists and psychiatrists, sharing knowledge and overhead, while maintaining complete autonomy over our own work. I have been the Managing Partner of ABH since its inception, I am proud and thankful for the collegiality and friendship my colleagues have provided.
In addition to my psychology practice, I have participated and held leadership positions in professional, non-profit and community organizations. I have also conducted workshops for psychologists and other medical and mental health providers, and I serve on numerous boards.
On a personal level, I have conducted my relationships with the same level of commitment that I have approached my work. I have friends that go back to very early childhood and I created a family that includes two daughters, now into their early adulthood. Travel has always been one of my greatest joys, and to date have been to approximately 30 countries on five continents, and I have explored at least 35 states.
In my practice I focus on providing individual and couple psychotherapy to adults of all ages and to older adolescents. I work with a variety of concerns including relationship problems, life transitions, GLBTQ issues, sexual concerns, depression, anxiety, alienation, decision making, isolation, and addictions. I am an active participant in the psychotherapy session, believing that it is your job to set the goals and mine to help you get there. While I recognize one might not always feel happier after an appointment, I do strive to help people feel that they received insight, understanding, direction and/or encouragement. I am in my office Monday through Friday starting at 9 AM, and based on the day of the week, until the middle to late afternoon. I only do after hours appointments with ongoing clients in emergencies. I consider psychotherapy to be a relationship where we need to have mutual trust and respect, and I hope you find that to be true through the commitment and organization that I bring to each appointment.
Insurance
Dr. Leonard is able to accept payment from nearly all insurance companies, although it is good practice for you to call the number on your insurance card so that you understand the extent of your obligations prior to the first appointment. Although he is on the panel of several "managed care" companies, he is not on all panels. Some allow you to see Dr. Leonard under their "out of network" benefits, but it is your responsibility to call your managed care company to find out if they have such a provision. Thank you.