John Leber

I believe counseling works best when it feels like a real conversation with someone who is willing to listen, ask good questions, and sometimes challenge you to look at things differently.

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Health Coach with master’s degrees in Professional Counseling, School Counseling, and Human Resources. My background has given me the opportunity to work with people across different stages of life and to understand challenges not only from a clinical perspective, but also through the lens of relationships, work, family, and everyday life.

I work with adults and couples dealing with relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, life transitions, stress, grief, and those times when you simply feel stuck or dissatisfied with where life is going.

My approach to therapy is conversational, direct, and collaborative. I believe good therapy involves more than simply talking about what happened during the week. Together, we look for the patterns underneath what you’re experiencing—how you think, respond, relate to others, and make sense of what has happened in your life.

I ask a lot of questions and offer observations along the way. At times, I may challenge you to consider something from a different perspective. I’m interested in helping you develop insight, but insight alone isn’t enough. The goal is to understand yourself more clearly and use that understanding to make meaningful changes in your life and relationships.

I work especially well with adults and couples navigating relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, grief, stress, life transitions, and questions of meaning or direction. I also enjoy working with people who may not have a specific diagnosis but know that something in their life isn’t working the way they want it to.

I don’t believe people should be reduced to a diagnosis or defined by the most difficult things that have happened to them. Your experiences matter, but they are only part of your story. Therapy can help you understand those experiences, recognize the choices you have today, and move toward the life and relationships you want.

The first session is really about getting to know you and understanding what brought you to counseling. I want to hear your story, what’s happening in your life right now, and what you hope might be different as a result of therapy.

You can expect a relaxed, conversational environment. I’ll ask questions, and I may begin pointing out patterns or making observations, but there’s no expectation that you need to tell me everything in the first hour. We’ll go at a pace that allows us to have an honest conversation and begin figuring out what matters most.

I also want to know what you want from me as your therapist. Some people want a place to process what they’re experiencing, while others want more feedback, challenge, or direction. Most people need some combination of those things.

By the end of our first session, my goal is for you to feel that I understand why you came in, that we have a sense of where we’re going, and—most importantly—that you feel comfortable enough to come back and continue the conversation.