James P. Leone, PhD

Jeff P. 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

Yes, my relative who is a psychiatrist at a jail says he sees people like Jim a lot and that Jim's line of talk with 'You have father issues and you see me as your father and so you have to work your issues through me' is scarily devious and insidious and that many of the inmates try to trick him and other staff using similar tricks as Jim used to be a shark toward his patients.  

Claire H. 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

I would classify Dr Leone as a psychopath who either manipulates people or harasses them. Both are fake and just attention seeking on his part. I wish I had actually learned to talk in a soothing and respectful problem-solving wise way instead of his perverse and disordered ways.  

Hello! 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

A friend knew about me being in Dr Leone's group and told me I was in a cult and am very gullible to be fooled by him, but I thought the group was helpful about challenging your lifestyle and making you change than being a cult. I thought had my friend also joined the group, Leon would attack the friend for being lazy and not learning mature adult skills and taking risks out of his comfort zone, so I thought the friend was lazy and could actually go to the group and get attacked and be forced to question and learn new things... read more

Jeff P. 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

So it was the wrong group for us despite him repeatedly saying it was 'the perfect place'. With support and communication instruction along with wise life advice, we could have had more normal success in another group. Jim's group was akin to being in Jehovas Witnesses, but actually Leon's group is actually closest to Scientology - with his special 'technology' to get through life, charming and brain washing to get you in, etc.  

Claire H. 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

Yep.. the effect of being exposed to Dr Leone was that you started faking emotions, forcing relationships in a fake psychopathic way, practicing and accepting boundary violations, sabotaging people, being alienated angry and sadistic, lashing out when you feel like it as a solution.. he ruined so many lives while telling people he was doing the opposite.  

Hello! 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

Jim was humiliating patients all the time and should have been reported for it as it’s harmful. Once meeting him, and getting tricked into his group under false misrepresentation that “women in the group will go crazy over you”, which didn’t happen, I disappeared from my family as per textbook cult involvement example. Funny how Jim ignored people’s parents and never said anything good about them. Almost like he was stealing a human resource from them for his own use. 

Hello! 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

I was against alcohol, drugs, prostitutes, escorts and shuddered at strip clubs. Then, in 2014, sitting in leone group, Jim made me feel so desperate that I suddenly got the idea - I must go to a strip club. He then reinforced it as a good idea and then laughed and demeaned me for it after telling me it was “school” for me. He also giggled like a school girl after encouraging young women to share explicit sexual details and heavily flirted with any woman he could in the group. It seemed strange for an elderly married m... read more

Hello! 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

Yes, Leone was engaging in toxic behaviors and teaching the same to his followers who sadly did not know better. Except the therapist-type patient who told him he is bad and should not be teaching anyone and walked out. 

Claire H. 

on Birdeye

6 months ago

Jim’s typical MO: letting him trust and lead you, giving you bad advice and then abusing you in front of your face while pretending he has something worthwhile for you. Laughing and demeaning you, then switching back to acting like a legit therapist - keeping you abused and confused. Then gaslighting you.