What is Therapist Zero?
Therapist Zero is an unflinching, darkly funny solo show about raising a brilliant, but troubled daughter – and the endless revolving door of therapists who couldn’t help her. Written and performed by Brian Leonard and directed by Ken Sonkin, the piece traces a decades-long journey through misdiagnoses, meltdowns, and moments of grace. Along the way, Leonard reflects on his own chaotic childhood: smoking by 2nd grade, forgotten during a family trip to Niagara Falls, etc., and how that upbringing shaped the parent he became.
Blending biting humor with deep vulnerability, Therapist Zero isn’t just about parenting a child in crisis; it’s about the generational echoes we carry, the limits of expertise, and the stubborn, imperfect love that sometimes requires walking away to find your way back. Under Sonkin’s deft direction, the show walks a tightrope between laugh-out-loud absurdity and raw emotional truth.
At its heart, Therapist Zero asks a deceptively simple question: What happens when everything you thought would work… doesn’t?
A story of failure, persistence, and hard-won healing, Therapist Zero will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to help someone they love, especially when that love defies easy answers.
What Audiences are Saying
Brooke C.
“Therapist Zero” takes us on multiple, compelling journeys. The path of the loving parent, the path of the unseen child and the path of someone navigating a sometimes, treacherous mental health care system. It’s all conveyed in Brian’s touching, down to earth, relatable and very funny way. As dark as it sometimes gets though, it always feels hopeful and fascinating. The mark of a great storyteller is when you want them to tell another chapter and I definitely felt this way at the end.
Sven
Beautifully written and performed. Brian is both funny and poignant in sharing his journey trying to cope with his family’s challenging experiences dealing with the mental health profession. Absolutely a must see.
Tanuja P.
An absolute gem of a show! Brian takes the audience on a vivid, unforgettable journey that’s as thought-provoking as it is moving. To share such an intimate, personal story with warmth, depth, and laugh-out-loud humor is a rare gift—and he delivers it masterfully.
John
Great story-telling from a man who has been thru the wringer with his family, and came out so much better for it. He does it with great wit, reflecting on his own upbringing and demonstrating his wonderful love for his daughter, as the family struggles to navigate modern mental healthcare. A real treat of a performance.
Danielle T.
Therapist Zero is a hilarious, beautifully told, poignant look at trying to avoid the mistakes of your own parents while parenting an extraordinary child of your own. The audience member sitting next to me said, “I wish he had more children. I want more chapters. I could listen to these stories all day!” I couldn’t agree more. Brian Leonard gives a flawless performance.
Do not miss it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Debra
Brian is an amazing storyteller. Funny, vulnerable, and captivating. He made me laugh. He made cry. Any maybe even more importantly, his performance kept me reflecting on own child raising choices and experiences for hours afterward. Therapist Zero is a don’t miss experience!
Marie
Therapist Zero is an evocative and emotional journey told through the lens of a caring, loving, and deeply concerned father. It offers a vulnerable and heartfelt account of one family’s experience navigating the complex and often overwhelming world of mental health. With raw honesty, it captures the resilience of the human spirit, showing how love, hope, and determination can endure even in the face of immense challenges. This story is as much about healing and understanding as it is about the enduring bonds that hold families together.
Pari M.
Absolutely loved the show. Brian’s performance was personal, intimate, and incredibly funny. He’s a wonderful storyteller, effortlessly weaving childhood memories into broader family dynamics. The show struck a perfect balance of humor, heart, and honesty.
About Brian Leonard
Brian Leonard is a writer, performer, and storyteller whose career spans stand-up comedy, television, theater, and animation. A veteran of the stand-up circuit in the 1980s and 1990s, Brian appeared on numerous TV comedy shows, earning praise as “…one of San Francisco’s most intelligent and funniest comedians” (San Jose Mercury News).
As an actor, he’s appeared in films like Bottle Shock and Bee Season, TV shows including Nash Bridges, and regional theater productions from San Francisco Shakespeare and TheaterWorks, among others. His writing credits include writing and directing for Ellen DeGeneres, Jason Sudeikis, and Mindy Kaling; writing BBC Radio’s The Treatment, and story consulting for Pixar Animation. He’s also had an animated series optioned by NBC/Universal.
Brian’s work has been honored with a Silver Hugo from the Chicago International Film Festival, and his writing for a UK campaign to de-stigmatize fertility issues was recognized by the Webby Awards. With a background in both performance and writing, Brian brings humor, heart, and sharp storytelling to the stage in Therapist Zero, his first solo show.
About Ken Sonkin
Ken Sonkin is an award-winning actor and director with an extensive career on stages throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, San Francisco Playhouse, The Magic Theatre, and Z Space. His regional credits include The Denver Center Theatre Company, Grove Shakespeare Festival, and Pacific Resident Theater in Los Angeles.
A seasoned performer and director, Ken has collaborated with acclaimed playwrights such as Oliver Goldstick, Brian Thorstenson, and Lynne Kaufman. He has served on the acting faculty at American Conservatory Theater and taught at Northwestern, Stanford, and The National Theatre Conservatory.
Ken is currently a professor at the University of San Francisco, where he teaches acting and directing and has helmed productions of Angels in America: Perestroika, Metamorphoses, and Tartuffe. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA.
