Andrew Leno

I am both excited and grateful to be a part of the Milestones family. Working with this team of clinicians has contributed significantly to my growth as a professional and as a person. Embracing growth, whether through success or failure, is a central theme in my life and clinical work. Reflecting on our experiences allows us to identify strengths and areas for further development. My aim as a clinician is to foster a growth mindset in children and adolescents, motivating them to continuously learn from their experiences. Collaborating closely with parents and schools is crucial in creating an environment conducive to self-discovery.

My commitment extends to providing evidence-based assessment and treatment for school-aged children and their families. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is my primary treatment approach, assisting individuals in understanding the interplay between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I strive to create a nonjudgmental space that emphasizes unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy, empowering individuals to examine and challenge maladaptive thought and behavioral patterns. My areas of interest include working with children and adolescents who struggle with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

These core values are integral to my approach to testing. My objective is to comprehend how children learn and perform in various contexts, identifying both strengths and areas needing support to foster development. Evaluations aim to clarify how a child learns, how strengths and challenges interact, delineate core difficulties and their manifestation in daily life, and suggest necessary strategies. I always consider the whole child, tailoring test batteries to individual needs.

Crucial to my clinical work is creating a fun and engaging environment. A primary goal in initial therapy and testing sessions is to discover a child’s interests and creatively integrate these into future sessions. Whether it’s using sports to promote self-regulation, employing video game, comic book, or anime analogies to teach cognitive and behavioral techniques, or utilizing art and music for stress reduction through planned positive activities, I strive to make sessions immersive and impactful.