Hope+Wellness

Hunter Leckonby,MA

Advanced Clinical Fellow

Hi there. I’m Hunter Leckonby :)

Hunter Leckonby, ma

advanced clinical fellow

Supervisor: Dr Joi R. Burnham

Locations: Falls Church, McLean, Telehealth
(she/her/hers)

Compassion and acceptance are powerful tools to hold in a world where people feel as though they are constantly being compared and critiqued by others. As a therapist, it is important to me to be able to create a safe, non-judgmental space in therapy for people struggling with understanding themselves and finding their place in this world. With a deep, personal understanding of the emotional toll these experiences can take on our mental and physical well-being, I offer a supportive environment for you to explore and overcome these obstacles while also building a meaningful therapeutic connection with you where you feel seen and heard. My goal is to assist you on a journey of growth and self-reflection where love and acceptance for who you are will be some of the many stops we will make together on this journey. 

My hope is to empower you to build resilience, cultivate self-compassion, and thrive amidst adversity. I am committed to helping individuals reclaim their sense of worth and confidence as they journey towards healing and personal growth. My utmost intention is to provide clients with the tools and knowledge they need to become unstuck and to promote the change they want to see in their lives.

I will remain by your side during this journey of personal development providing evidence-based support through the use of integrative cognitive, behavioral, and acceptance-based approaches and the incorporation of your individualized values and strengths. Without change, individuals remain stagnant, unable to reach their full potential or respond effectively to shifting circumstances; thus, I believe that by embracing change, we empower ourselves to shape our destinies, unlock new opportunities, and create a brighter future for ourselves and those we care about.

I specialize in working with people who experience uncertainty and insecurity when it comes to living a life that is meaningful and authentic to them. I enjoy working with teenagers, college students, men struggling with their emotional health, and those with military backgrounds. I believe that I connect more deeply with those who face the most judgment from our current society when it comes to mental health, self-esteem, and self-compassion.

I earned my master’s degree from La Salle University, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). For my clinical residency, I completed a predoctoral internship at the Syracuse VA Medical Center where I worked to provide high quality, evidence-based, trauma-informed care to veterans with a wide range of mental health concerns, including PTSD and trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, suicidality, stress adjustment and life transitions. I have also had the honor of serving in hospitals and community mental health centers to support and provide compassionate and comprehensive care.

I am currently supervised by Dr. Joi Burnham.

Philosophy

In therapy, it is powerful to find someone who gets you. I work to create a space like this for each person, that is tailored specifically and uniquely for you. My deepest intention is to empower clients to be able to navigate life's challenges and to help you connect with your own personal inner sources of strength and resilience.

My approach is integrative, drawing from high quality, evidence-based therapies including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), exposure therapy, and mindfulness and acceptance based interventions. I also work to create an environment where you will feel honored and affirmed for all aspects of who you are, where you can feel safe to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to create a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Therapy is collaborative and individually tailored in a way that deeply resonates with you. Our work together begins with a discussion about your current difficulties and what you are looking to get out of treatment. You will be supported in feeling active and empowered in sessions, where we are in partnership to figure out how to help you move through the difficulties and challenges you are facing. It is important to know that you are not alone — I am here with you, working to combine evidence-based therapies, clinical intuition, and your feedback when integrating different techniques or skills into your care, within a safe, affirming, nonjudgmental space.

Specialty Areas

PTSD, trauma, and trauma-informed care

It is important to recognize the profound impact of trauma on an individual's psychological well-being and recognize the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for healing. I work to create a space that is filled with understanding, compassion, and sensitivity, to support people who have experienced adverse life events and trauma. I have expertise in working with trauma survivors of sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, community violence, and/or gun violence, and specialize in providing high quality, evidence-based trauma-informed care including cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE).

men’s issues, men struggling with emotional health

I offer a space for men where together we can better understand and explore the unique challenges, societal pressures, and cultural expectations that they may face. I strive to foster a supportive and empowering environment where men feel validated, understood, and empowered to prioritize their mental health and personal growth.

teens, young adulthood

I work with older teens emerging into young adulthood, and young adults who are overwhelmed with the stressors that life can naturally bring as it relates to school, preparing for college, moving, starting a new job, making new friends, relationships, and general life transitions.

anxiety, stress

Anxiety can leave you feeling overwhelmed with intense emotions. When working with people with anxiety, I strive to understand their unique challenges, fears, and concerns associated with their anxiety so that each person feels seen, heard, and supported. This empathetic approach helps me to create a therapeutic alliance built on trust and compassion.

depression, life adjustment, stress, and transitions

It is natural to feel a mix of emotions during times of adjustment, stress, and life transitions. If you have been feeling this way, know you are not alone. I’m happy to meet with you to discuss different ways to cope and get through the stressors and changes in your life.

OCD

I specialize in providing CBT and Exposure and Response Therapy to address concerns related to OCD. OCD can be paradoxical, leaving you wanting control but feeling out of control at the same time. Together we will work to help you break free from the grips of OCD to help you live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling.

Chronic health conditions

I offer supportive and compassionate care for those dealing with various health challenges and chronic health conditions. I work with my clients to navigate and cope with these complex and often life-altering situations. My goal is to empower my clients with new or chronic health concerns to adapt, thrive, and continue leading fulfilling lives. 

Additional Areas of Expertise

Academic Stress and Pressure
Adjusting to Life Transitions
Adjustment to Disability
Adolescence
Anxiety
Anger Management
Attention Problems
Chronic Pain
Discovering Your Identity
Distress Tolerance
Emotion Regulation
Generalized Anxiety
General Stress of Being Human
Grief and Loss
Identity
Life Stress
Life Transitions
Living with a Chronic Illness
Low Self Esteem
Mid-Life Crisis
Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
Perfectionism
Personal Growth
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Relationship and Communication Difficulties
Self-Care
Self-Criticism
Self-Esteem
Sensitivity
Social Anxiety
Stress Management
Trauma
Quarter-Life Crisis
Young Adults

more ABOUT ME

Hobbies + what I like to do for fun!

Outside of the office, I enjoy walking my dog, exercising, painting, reading, eating great food, and going to museums.

why I became a psychologist..

I have a genuine desire to help individuals overcome challenges, improve their mental well-being, and lead more fulfilling lives. Another part of my motivation to become a psychologist was to help promote cultural awareness, social justice, and inclusivity in mental health care. :)

favorite QUOTES

“A tree that is unbending, is easily broken.”
— Lao Tzu
“Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.”
— Vincent van Gogh
“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
— Marcus Aurelius
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
— Benjamin Franklin
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
— George Eliot
These negative thinking patterns can influence our mood and exacerbate feelings of anxiety, depression, or other feelings of insecurity and self doubt. This can then contribute to a pattern of unhealthy behaviors–which in turn starts the cycle
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If you’re thinking of starting therapy, you’ve likely run into the term modality before. A modality is the approach a therapist takes when providing care for their patients. One of the modalities we utilize here is called Cognitive Behavi
EMDR was initially developed to help process trauma, and lessen the effects of PTSD, and it is an incredibly powerful way to treat trauma, including trauma from childhood or abuse. However, research has shown that EMDR can be helpful with a number of
Some of the phases go faster than others, and once you are ready to begin reprocessing, most of your EMDR sessions will be some combination of phases 3-8. #emdr #emdrTherapy #nervoussystemdysregulation #nervoussystem #complexptsd #psychoeducation #
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a kind of psychotherapy that was developed in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro was walking outdoors in 1987 when she noticed that the distress she was feeling, relate
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a kind of psychotherapy that was developed in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro was walking outdoors in 1987 when she noticed that the distress she was feeling, relate
To start, you pick which of the five emotions feels closest to what you’re feeling. As the rings move outward, the terms get more and more specific. So for example, maybe you can only identify that you feel sad. If you start at sad, and go one
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