LEILA PIRNIA

Specialties and Certifications

Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Neurodiverse Parenting Specialist
Neurodiverse Couples Specialist
Kids and Teens Therapist
Cassandra Syndrome Specialist
ADHD, OCD, and Anxiety Specialist

Life Experience

Associate Psychotherapist at Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center and Autism Parenting Therapy Center. Training with Dr. Harry Moto, Clinical Director and Founder.
Clinical training - The Center for Professional Counseling of Los Angeles. Trained from a psychodynamic, depth-oriented clinical theoretical orientation, integrating alternative modalities as needed such as family systems theory, attachment theory, and CBT/DBT/ACT.
Clinical training - Outreach Concern. Work with children, teens, and families as a school-based mental health therapist at multiple school sites. Handle a diverse caseload of students with behavioral, social, emotional, and academic needs. Incorporate a strengths-based orientation to foster academic growth and help students reach their personal potential, both inside and outside the classroom.
Graduate Research Associate working alongside Dr. Shelly Harrell in her Culture, Wisdom, and Resilience Lab. My primary focus was the development of a unique application designed specifically for mental health therapists. This innovative tool enables therapists to incorporate quotes from thought leaders into their therapy practices, promoting greater wisdom, insight, and resilience among their clients.
Prior President, CFO, COO, and Founder of various tech companies, startups, and non-profit organizations. Learnings from the corporate world helped shape my passion for understanding people’s behaviors, motivations, and drives. These experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective and skill set that I bring to my work as a mental health therapist.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis on Marriage & Family Therapy, Pepperdine University

Main Areas of Focus

Couples Therapy & Coaching

GOAL = RESOLVING ISSUES, PROMOTE HEALING

Couples come to therapy for various reasons. It could be a breakdown in communication, feelings of being unloved or undervalued, unrealistic expectations, or infidelity. These struggles are common when you consider two individuals coming together to forge the closest relationship of their adult lives. My goal is to help couples resolve their issues and promote healing through mutual cooperation, communication, and connection.

CHANGE YOURSELF, NOT YOUR PARTNER

As a couples counselor, my role is not to change you or your partner, but to provide you with the necessary communication and relationship skills to help your relationship thrive. I use a directive approach to couples counseling that focuses on rapid change and results. I encourage both partners to take responsibility for their part in the negative cycle and show a genuine willingness to adjust their beliefs and behaviors. It is through this commitment and self-reflection that couples can find the fulfillment and joy from their relationship.

1ST SESSION: ASSESS & SET GOALS

In our first session together, I assess the areas of your relationship that may be causing distress and work with both partners to create a tailored plan to address and eliminate these issues. This plan is collaborative and each partner has a voice in developing goals for the couple.

POWER OF COMMUNICATION

I strongly believe in the power of effective communication and emotional safety in breaking dysfunctional patterns in a relationship. In our sessions together, couples learn practical methods to help express their thoughts and feelings in non-threatening ways that enable their partner to see and hear them and understand where they're coming from. My role is not to determine who is right or wrong, but to enable each person to fully see and hear their partner while I offer guidance and support as we navigate through the obstacles together.

UNDERSTANDING NEEDS OF PARTNER
One of the common challenges in relationships is the tendency to give what we want instead of what our partner needs. We often make assumptions about their desires based on our own preferences, which can lead to misunderstandings and disconnection. In our work together, we will explore the importance of understanding and fulfilling each other's needs, even when they may seem contradictory or unfamiliar.

BALANCED THERAPY

I am dedicated to working with both partners equally, encouraging effort and curiosity from both sides. Research shows that when both individuals are equally invested in the therapeutic process, couples have the greatest potential for positive change and transformation. My goal is to enable each partner to put blame aside and start to look at their part in the negative cycle. It is only when two people show each other that they take the issue seriously and are willing to begin adjusting their beliefs and behaviors that couples grow and healing can begin.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

If you're struggling in your relationship and feel like you're at a crossroads, I encourage you to reach out for support. Together, we can work towards building a stronger, more connected partnership that brings out the best in each of you.

Other Areas of Focus

High Achievers
Tech Executives, Corporate Executives
Midlife and Life Transitions
First Generation, Immigrants and Children of Immigrants
Trilingual: Farsi (Persian), Spanish, and English

Modalities

Psychodynamic/depth-oriented psychology
EFT (emotion focused therapy for couples)
IFS (internal family systems)
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) including ACT and DBT
Family Systems Dynamics
Solution focused therapy

Clients

Individuals
Couples
Families
Teens/Kids

License

Registered AMFT #138180

Registered APCC #13526

Supervised by Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT #53452

Employed by New Path Couples Therapy Inc.

Contact

Email: pirniatherapy@gmail.com

Website: https://www.pirniatherapy.com/

Leila Pirnia