Leonard Pikaard

To exist is to suffer -Buddha. Life can be full of wonderful joys and experiences that bring about happiness. However, life can also be filled with expected or unexpected turns and bumps, which promote physical, mental, and spiritual suffering. Whether its a pleasant or sad event, every experience we have in life triggers us to feel an emotion: emotions motivate us to take all types of different actions; some of which are healthy, and some of which may have a negative impact on our lives. The key is learning to become mindful of our emotions and how they drive us to behave: this may be easier said than done. Talking to a therapist like Leonard can help one become mindful and understand why they are feeling certain emotions, as well as what actions they can take to help release them from the bondage of that emotion. To be successful, one must become comfortable carrying out uncomfortable tasks. There is a lot of work involved with understanding emotions and making changes in ones life …in order to facilitate recovery. Change takes effort, and putting effort into trying new things is often uncomfortable so overwhelmingly uncomfortable, that sometimes we shy away from even trying. To conquer emotional distress or substance abuse, one must persevere through the adversity and grow. Having trudged his own path to success, Leonard is the perfect therapist to start your journey with.Leonard graduated from Rutgers University with a Masters Degree in Social Work. He is a Licensed Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of New Jersey. Leonard is an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and has been celebrating his own personal recovery from substance abuse since 2010. Leonard believes that one size does not fit all, and that to best treat his clients, he must meet them where they are. Using a variety of modalities, Leonard helps clients to blaze their own path through recovery.