Bill Leavitt MBA, MS, LMFT
My specialty is working with people who are stressed, angry, anxious or depressed, and hitting a rough patch – grasping for answers and help. I have worked in psychotherapy in various capacities (lead therapist, case manager, psychosocial assessor, etc) for 13 years and have been in private practice in Burbank for over 7 years. I have found that what we think, our self talk, drives the emotions, but also tends to be the key to open the door to other deeper aspects of our psyche that control our patterns of behavior. Once we open the door I use a variety of techniques taken from a number of disciplines to attempt to help you heal the wounds.
I listen a lot, but will also work together with you and use various methods of questioning and commenting t
o help you arrive at your own answers. I’m very interactive and not one of those therapists who sit there and go “Uh-huh…” My approach is sometimes teaching (Socratic), sometimes listening, but always interactive.
My background is diverse, born and raised in NYC (fughettaboutit), 12 years USMC and 20 + years in corporate America with an MBA and as stated above, 12+ years in mental health. I was married for 20 years but have been divorced for quite a while. I understand coming back from that as well. My children are grown. I understand the complexities of modern life and our individual struggles.
Along with the economic downturn of 2009, I experienced a long layoff in employment and a clinical depression myself. Had a short bout with the bottle and even thought of checking out… unless you’ve been there you don’t know quite what that’s like. But with help, and a lot of personal work on my part, I came back. It led me into the field that I am in now and when I speak to you on these subjects I speak as a friend who has been there. I get it.
My primary tool to begin is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Powerful arsenal of tools that this modality provides. It gives me a window into your thinking. But once we get a bead on the issues, I will use a variety of different techniques to zero in and create hopefully lasting change: i.e. Brainspotting, the Empty Chair, inner child work, breathing, mindfulness and meditation, Jungian analysis and even Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques. If it works I’m interested in it and want to use it.