Leana Sykes M.Ed, LPC, ACS

In-person and virtual availability

Hi, I’m Leana Sykes, owner of Grounded Growth Counseling.

I work with adults and couples whose present-day lives and relationships are still being shaped by early family experiences. Many of the people I work with grew up with emotionally immature, inconsistent, or unavailable parents, experienced loyalty conflicts or parental alienation, or learned early to adapt in order to stay connected. Over time, these experiences can show up as self-doubt, guilt around boundaries, emotional reactivity, distance in relationships, or patterns that persist despite insight and effort.

My approach is attachment-based and trauma-informed, grounded in the understanding that early relationships shape how the nervous system learns safety and connection. I integrate evidence-based modalities such as EMDR and Brainspotting to support change at the level where these experiences are held so insight becomes felt and lasting. Sessions are structured, collaborative, and carefully paced, with a focus on nervous-system regulation, clarity, and forward movement.

In my work with couples, I help partners understand how their individual histories interact in the relationship, often creating cycles of escalation, withdrawal, or disconnection despite care and commitment. Using a PACT-informed framework, I focus on what’s happening between partners in real time, supporting greater safety, mutual regulation, and repair. When appropriate, EMDR or Brainspotting is gently integrated to reduce reactivity and support new relational experiences.

I believe it’s possible to honor your story without being defined by it. My work is focused on helping individuals and couples carry their history with less weight and build relationships that feel steadier, more intentional, and more connected.

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”
— Maya Angelou