Christopher Leonard

I am available for sessions between 08:00 and 21:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, in person in Manchester city centre, or remotely across the UK by telephone or online.

Sessions are 50 minutes long and I usually see clients once per week but this is not a condition; we’ll work out what is helpful to you. I see clients on both short term and longer term bases; there is no prescribed length of therapy and you are free to end at any point.

When you know something isn’t right and you want to feel differently about things, it’s tough not knowing quite how to achieve it. 

Hi, I’m Chris. I became a therapist because I learned that talking changes lives. So, it’s great to have you here, exploring how you can bring about change for yourself.

I’m a supporter of people ‘finding their voice’; developing their ability to express themselves. Whether you’ve been marginalised, misunderstood, ‘hidden’, I’m interested in the reasons why we are unable to be heard sometimes; what gets in our way (or what we put in the way) that actively stops us from living fully. How can we separate the helpful from the unhelpful? 

I’m also interested in the connections between body and mind, and I practice mindfulness and breathing meditation. In my spare time I practice creative activities and sometimes, by invitation, I use these when working with clients.

How I work

I focus on what is called a ‘person-centred’ way of working. This approach develops a really collaborative, supportive relationship that sets the conditions for openness, trust, and a unique freedom to explore. It invites curiosity and understanding which gives you space to consider things. One of the reasons that counselling and psychotherapy is so compelling to me is the reality that I don’t have the answers, yet I can help you to find yours.

Sessions with me

Sessions with me are relaxed. I am patient and accepting; you lead the way, we work to your pace, so you don’t ever need to feel pressured.  

If you need to feel valued as a human being and respected for the difficulties you're experiencing, you're in the right place.

Although I have helped clients with a range of difficulties, here are five specific areas where I work;

Self esteem: maybe you’ve been keeping quiet, put others first to keep the peace, not wanting to upset anyone.  You might feel you’ve ‘lost your voice’ or ‘lost yourself’, or describe yourself as a ‘people pleaser’.  It can leave you angry, blaming yourself, sad, frustrated.  I help you explore, reflect, make sense of, re-frame and connect to a renewed sense of self.

Anxiety: perhaps your mind has a pattern of overthinking, when the ‘what if’s’ and the fears feel overwhelming, like it’s impossible to make them go away. Perhaps it escalates to the point of panic.  I help you to slow things down, create room to explore so together we can understand what is going on. I work with you to help you achieve a greater stability to your thoughts and develop a sense of freedom.

Anger:  maybe your anger is always there, lurking. Perhaps you’re aware of the impact your anger has on yourself and others, and you’d like to do things differently. I work with you with compassion and acceptance so that we can get underneath your default response and develop healthy ways for you to express yourself and satisfy your needs.

Adult family estrangement:  maybe you have a difficult, or non-existent relationship with your parent(s), your adult child/children, or your adult sibling(s).  No-one really understands. It’s complicated, yet you know you want to feel better about it.  I help you navigate conflict, estrangement, life transitions and communication difficulties in your adult family.

Death Anxiety:  maybe your mind fills you with fears about dying; a sense of dread about your own mortality. Perhaps they manifest themselves in nightmares, or waking night terrors, or they become all-consuming in the waking hours with no notice or apparent reason. I help you to reach for a fuller understanding so you can reconsider your relationship to issues of mortality.

What clients say

“Chris made me feel valued and listened to... I am hopeful and excited about the future now, after a very long time.”

“I feel like I've started, even if the first step was hard, and I now feel more equipped to try and make positive changes.”

“[Chris] was kind, patient and allowed me to feel immediately at ease, both with the space and my own mind to allow an inner exploration of thoughts and feelings, at my own pace and in a way that centred me and my needs, all while prioritising a continuation of my individual journey. I truly couldn’t give higher praise.”

“Chris was excellent. I’m delighted with my progress - I feel it emotionally.”

“Chris really listened to me and it felt like a safe space to discuss things“

“Chris was an amazing empathetic person.”

Get in touch / Free 20 minutes telephone call

Would you like to know more?  Have some questions? You can use the form to contact me and I'll give you some times of when we could chat, so you can get a better feel for me as a person and therapist before deciding if we're a good fit.