Leila A. Pirnia, MA
Psychotherapist
323-540-4482

About Me
Welcome
I help neurodivergent individuals and couples make sense of their wiring, build meaningful relationships, and live with more ease.
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I’m a therapist who specializes in working with neurodiverse adults, twice-exceptional individuals, and couples navigating the challenges that come when one or both partners are autistic, ADHD, or otherwise wired differently. Many of my clients are high-achieving professionals—doctors, creatives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and tech leaders—who are deeply capable but often feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or disconnected in their personal lives.
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My practice blends deep insight with practical tools. Together, we’ll explore how your brain is wired, uncover what’s been getting in the way, and build the emotional regulation, communication skills, and identity clarity needed to thrive—in relationships, at work, and within yourself.​​

I draw from evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs, including psychodynamic therapy, Internal Family Systems (parts work), CBT, and trauma-informed care. Clients often come to me to work on:
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Managing overstimulation, perfectionism, and burnout
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Strengthening executive function skills like focus, follow-through, and decision-making
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Understanding and unmasking from neurotypical expectations
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Learning to express needs clearly and develop healthy boundaries
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Deepening intimacy and communication in neurodiverse relationships
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Making peace with internalized shame and self-doubt from years of masking
My approach is rooted in lived understanding. Before becoming a therapist, I spent years in high-stakes corporate leadership—earning my undergraduate degree from MIT and holding executive roles in investment banking, startups, and the entertainment industry. I know what it’s like to carry responsibility, appear outwardly successful, and still feel like there’s a deeper, more meaningful way of living that remains just out of reach. You don’t need to change who you are. But you do deserve the support to live in a way that feels more authentic, connected, and sustainable.
Let’s work together to get you there.
My Training & Experience
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Clinical Director of The Center for Twice Exceptional Counseling, supporting high achievers navigating the complexities of being both gifted and neurodiverse.
- Clinical Director of AuDHD Couples Counseling Center, supporting couples and individuals navigating the layered experiences of autism and ADHD—at home, in relationships, at work, and beyond.
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Therapist & Coach at Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center and Autism Parenting Therapy Center. Trained with Dr. Harry Moto, Clinical Director and Founder.
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Clinical training - The Center for Professional Counseling of Los Angeles. Trained with psychoanalysts Dr. Rachel Bar and Dr. Jack Mayhall.
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Clinical training working with children and teens as a mental health therapist on multiple school sites. Trained with Dr. Anna Cho & Dr. Farrah Mizraee - Outreach Concern.
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Graduate Research Associate working with Dr. Shelly Harrell in her Culture, Wisdom, and Resilience Lab.
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California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT) Member. Appointed to Finance Committee 2021-22.
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Educational Counselor for MIT.
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Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. Member of Psi Chi, international honor society in psychology.
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Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management Science from MIT.


My Latest Research & Publications
Team
Leila Pirnia is the Clinical Director of The Center for Twice Exceptional Counseling and the AuDHD Couples Counseling Center, and she is part of the Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center and the Parenting Autism Therapy Center, all of which provide specialized therapy services for individuals, couples, and families.
We're a group of dedicated therapists who have come together to:
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Treat the neurodiverse community with respect
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Develop a robust set of tools to help neurodiverse couples and families
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Approach neurodiverse healing from a strength-based approach
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​Understand that the trauma of past misunderstanding needs to be healed in a gentle way
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Share best-practices for neurodiverse therapy amongst the team for client success
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Offer integrated therapy where both the couple and each partner can each have their own therapist; yet, the therapy is synchronized to achieve compatible goals
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​Our Clinical Director is Dr. Harry Motro, PsyD, LMFT #53452