Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Pinkston
Hi Leah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 7 years old and was fortunate enough to have received accommodations and support throughout my academic career. Growing up I struggled with understanding ADHD and how it would impact my future, believing that it would cause significant limitations in my life.
I grew up in a family that valued the importance of helping others and knew I always found value in myself when helping others through difficult times so therapy became a lane that I was interested in early on. As I started learning about psychology and how it helped me not only understand others, but also myself, I knew that becoming a therapist would allow me to find meaning and fulfillment in my career.
During my time as a therapist, I became more and more interested in helping other adults learn more about their neurodivergence and how ADHD can actually infiltrate every aspect of someone’s life. I feel so much privilege in helping others understand that they are not too much, overly sensitive, or crazy, but rather recognizing that their brain works differently and it’s about finding solutions that actually work with their brain rather than against. Seeing clients start to gain confidence and treat themselves with the same respect and kindness as they do others will never cease to inspire me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
On the outside, I think it might have looked like a smooth road for me, because I was able to excel academically once I found my stride in college, but my perfectionism and test anxiety caused me to expend a lot of energy with trying to regulate from all of the stress I was feeling while completing school and licensure. Unfortunately, my stress can manifest as irritability, I am so grateful that my loved ones were able to remain patient with me during this time as I was trying to advance towards my dream.
I have since been able to understand that it is my responsibility to learn how to regulate my feelings and continue to participate in my relationship even when I am struggling. While ADHD is a constant experience that I am trying to stabilize myself within, it is not an excuse to disengage from important relationships in my life.
One of the catch phrases that many of my clients with ADHD relate to is “I’m too much yet never enough.” This mentality causes many people with ADHD to display people pleasing tendencies and fear of rejection. I have also struggled with these insecurities in my life and it took me a while to stabilize my self-worth and advocate for my value.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have been a practicing therapist for almost 10 years now. I started out working in Intensive Outpatient group therapy for clients suffering from substance abuse and mental health diagnoses. This experience helped expose me to a more structured treatment modality that heavily ties into my current treatment methods as an Individual therapist.
Currently, I am working as an individual therapist at Clover Counseling Services, providing therapy (ages 18+) and completing QB Testing for adults interested in getting evaluated for ADHD. I am most known for working with clients with mood disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance abuse.
I think what sets me apart from others is my authenticity and transparency in session. I genuinely see the strength and courage people embody to step into the therapy room and I try to constantly honor that magic. I also disclose some of my own struggles and used skills within my ADHD experience when relating to my clients and I have been given a lot of feedback from them that reflects appreciation in knowing they are not alone.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Authenticity, kindness, and effort are probably three of the most important qualities I feel inspired by others, try to embody myself, and try to teach to my own children. I spent a lot of my younger years comparing myself to others
and thinking that I was lazy or not going to be enough because I struggled with staying consistent with goals and worrying that others would get annoyed or irritated with my neurodivergent quirks. I am so grateful that I have come to understand the importance of having self-compassion and patience towards myself in the changes that I pursue in my life. I believe that a singular act of kindness has the ability to change someone’s life and believe it is important show that not only to others but also to ourselves. When I am being effortful with my family and participating in a way that feels good, there is almost no better feeling to me.
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