Leah McKinney, LCPC

About me

Hello, I'm Leah and I know how hard it can be to reach out for help. I have been there. You may have been thinking about getting help for yourself for a long time before you built up the courage, or got desperate enough to actually seek out a therapist. Most of us wrestle with feelings of anxiety and depression, hoping they will just go away or get better on their own. Often, if things don't get better we go see a doctor and get some anti-depressants, which may help a little bit, but the issues still persist. Your issues and your struggles are real, you are not making them up.

I've been a professional counselor since 2013. I started as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Idaho, then I moved into more mental and behavioral health focused counseling. I've worked in a primary care office with patients during medical visits. Working in the medical clinic allowed me to see the direct correlation between mental and physical health. The brain and the body are not separate, what is happening in your brain is happening in your body and what is happening in your body is happening in your brain, it is all the same organism.

I've also worked in a 'classic' counseling settings with one-on-one clients and their family members. Ever since COVID, I have been doing a great deal of telehealth, which can be just as effective as in-person counseling and a lot of fun.

Because of my experiences in the medical field, I will ask you questions such as, "Are you getting enough to eat, are you getting enough sleep, do your try to get some movement/exercise a couple of times per week, are you using drugs or alcohol too much? These health basics greatly influence our ability to deal with our emotions, which can get unbalanced easily if we are neglecting our physical needs.

My own experiences with depression, anxiety, family dysfunction and co dependent relationships lead me to find counseling for myself which eventually turned into me becoming a counselor. I have seen three counselors in my lifetime and each of them shaped me and guided me in ways that I needed at the time. I have also been shaped by great teachers such as Melody Beattie, Gabor Mate, Ram Dass, and Marsha Linehan. These teachers all have significant lessons for humanity and that includes you.

I have a great deal of experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Mindfulness and meditation, and trauma treatment including EMDR.

I love sharing the journey while moving forward with courage and compassion.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Antisocial Personality, Attachment issues, Avoidant Personality, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent Personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Mood disorders , Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Paranoia, Personality Disorders, Post-traumatic stress, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

License information

ID LCPC LCPC-8805

Reviews

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