Leonard Capozzi
Counsellor
I specialise in:
About me
I've always had a deep curiosity about what makes us tick as human beings and from a young age this sparked my interest in psychology and the contemplative spiritual traditions of East and West. In part, these interests grew from my own struggles with anxiety and a lingering legacy of loss and grief in my family of origin. I'm deeply grateful for how those early explorations became a lifelong compass for me, allowing me to develop a sense of meaning and purpose and equilibrium amidst life’s challenges.
My career, previously as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and now as a psychotherapist and counselor, has always centered on providing direct support and service to individuals and groups. I consider my greatest strengths to be my ability to listen deeply, to connect authentically and to develop trusting, healing relationships with people from all walks of life.
My academic background includes a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago and a diploma in Person-Centered Counseling from the Centro La Famiglia in Rome. Additionally, I'm a certified instructor of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), having completed my training through the Center for Mindfulness at UMASS Medical School (USA) and the Brown University Mindfulness Center (USA).
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I currently live in Rieti, Italy, about an hour north of Rome. I enjoy spending time in nature hiking, swimming and doing walking meditation in the forest. Once a year, I like to do a long meditation retreat to allow my heart-mind-body to deeply settle. I enjoy exploring the artistic and historic wonders of Italy and, of course, I always enjoy a great Neapolitan-style pizza!
I speak:
Location:
Approach
All of us are on a healing journey and sometimes it helps to have the support of someone who is able to listen deeply and non-judgmentally and to then respond with appropriate questions and comments that facilitate self-discovery. These are the intentions that guide me each time I meet with a client.
My primary interests and expertise are in the areas of health psychology and in using mindfulness-based interventions to support people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, illness, and the complexities of loss and grief. My therapeutic approach is holistic but is mainly informed by the cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and humanistic approaches to psychotherapy and counseling.
Although effective psychotherapy has many commonalities across types, I’m aware that each client is a unique individual who brings their own particular story and personality to the therapy session. With this in mind, I always like to remember the wisdom of the psychiatrist Irvin Yalom, "We must create a new therapy for each client”.
I wish you well on your healing journey, and if what I've written here is in line with who you’re looking for in a therapist or counselor, I look forward to hearing from you.
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