Redefining Therapy in the Modern Day

Welcome to AJ Counseling

Andrea & Jacob Leonardi, Founders

We created AJ Counseling with one primary goal in mind: deliver quality therapy and make a positive impact within our community. Our unique set of training and expertise allow us to reach a wide rage of individuals and couples to provide the support needed in achieving the healthier versions of themselves they would like to be.

About Andrea

I believe the therapeutic relationship involves respectful collaboration to achieve the happier and healthier version of you. Though we all go through our individual journey to heal, I find that I am happy to meet you where you are at and provide the support and safety you need to address the issues you feel weigh you down with options when you may feel overwhelmed. I love working with different individuals and am proud to provide a judgment free zone. I am proud to be an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist. I primarily work with adults, couples, and expecting/new parents in person or via telehealth. The therapeutic modalities I draw from in sessions include CBT, DBT skills, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, EFT, Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR. I am an EMDR Consultant and use this amazing technique for a range of issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and couples. I am also certified in perinatal mental health so I am able to offer higher-level support to expecting parents and those dealing with postpartum depression.

Beginnings and Ongoings

I was born and raised in El Paso, TX. In 2014, I received my bachelor’s degree at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX and from there, made my way to Phoenix where I obtained my Master of Social Work degree in 2017. I begun my career as an LMSW at a recovery center for seriously mentally ill adults and transition to the outpatient setting once I got my LCSW in 2020. Outside the office, I love reading a good book, swimming, baking and time with friends and family. Traveling is good for the soul and I plan a few trips a year! You can also find me munching on takis and TJ chocolate truffles. I am a mom to a beautiful girl and her Dad and I love watching her grow into a little person. Between her and our three cats, each day is an adventure. I am excited to work with you, and I will always be direct and honest with you about what to expect!

About Jacob

About Me

My decision to become a therapist grew out of a simple but deeply held purpose: to make a meaningful, positive impact in the lives of others. I believe that when people heal, they don't just change their own lives—they strengthen their relationships, families, and communities. It is a privilege to be part of that process. I work with adults experiencing trauma, OCD, chronic pain, and difficulties rooted in attachment patterns. Whether you're struggling with overwhelming anxiety, intrusive thoughts, unresolved trauma, or relationship patterns that keep repeating, we'll work together to understand what's happening and develop practical, lasting solutions. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), two evidence-based approaches that are highly effective for treating trauma and OCD. My work is also informed by attachment theory, helping clients understand how early experiences can influence emotions, relationships, and the ways they cope with life's challenges.

Where I am from:
I was born and raised in Arizona, in the west valley of Waddell-now known as Surprise! In the early 90s it was primarily a farming community where we raised cows, chickens, horses and dogs. Now the area is highly suburban and modernized, like so much of the state, but my roots have given me an affinity for a slower pace of life. I have always had a passion for psychology and a desire to understand how we operate as people. This led me to pursuing psychology at Arizona State University, where I researched cognitive psychology at their laboratory. This time was highly influential in my decision to pursue therapy as a career path. I obtained my master's in social work a few years after graduating during the pandemic in 2020. Since then, I have practiced directly with a wide range of populations, and my passion for the work has only grown. Outside of therapy work, you might find me on the golf course, staying active and baking sourdough from scratch!