Leah Shirley, the 16-year-old daughter of Teen Mom star Amber Portwood, is beginning to face the emotional struggles she’s dealt with for years. During a recent episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Leah revealed that she has started therapy to work through her feelings about her relationship with her mother, Amber, and the trauma it has caused. Leah admitted that one of her biggest challenges is dealing with her abandonment issues, something that has deeply affected her mental health.
Leah Talks About Her Difficult TV Clips
In the episode, Leah opened up about how difficult it is for her to watch old Teen Mom clips, especially ones from when she was a toddler. She explained that many of these clips feature her mother, Amber, yelling from another room while little Leah cries. “It’s always Amber screaming at you, and then you leave,” Leah said. Watching these moments is painful for her because they remind her of times when her mother wasn’t there for her, and the emotional impact of those moments has stayed with her over the years.
Leah shared that these experiences have led to feelings of abandonment, which continue to affect her daily life. “I’m always scared that people are just gonna leave me for no reason,” Leah confessed. While these feelings began with her relationship with her mother, they have also affected her relationship with her stepmother, Kristina. Leah expressed her fear that Kristina might also leave her, which adds to the emotional weight she carries.
Her father, Gary Shirley, has been a supportive figure in Leah’s life. He acknowledged the pain Leah has experienced and suggested that she seek therapy to help her work through her feelings. Leah agreed, expressing her desire to overcome her trauma and eventually forgive Amber. She also recognized that it’s been challenging for her to process her emotions about her mother’s absence in her life. “It affects me every day,” Leah explained.
Leah Shirley’s Therapy Journey
As Leah starts her therapy journey, she hopes to heal from the past and move forward. “I want to overcome it, forgive Amber, and move on,” Leah said. She also admitted that it’s difficult for her to forgive, and therapy could help her learn how to do so. Gary fully supports Leah’s decision and is committed to prioritizing her well-being. He emphasized that if Leah doesn’t want Amber involved in her therapy, he will respect her wishes.
In the episode, it was also revealed that Leah hadn’t had contact with Amber for several months. Gary made it clear that Leah has set boundaries to protect herself from further hurt. If Amber ever tried to force contact, it could create more problems. Leah, who has lived with her father since 2011, made it clear that she would not tolerate being forced into any situation that makes her uncomfortable.
