Sonya Leidigh
Understand what’s happening and what can help
I don’t believe a diagnosis or test score tells the whole story of who you are. Whether you come to me for counseling or psychological assessment, I want to understand you as a whole person—including your experiences, challenges, strengths, and goals.
My best-fit clients are people who are willing to show up, become curious about themselves, and explore what feels important in their lives. You may be working through longstanding patterns or painful experiences, trying to understand something that has recently become difficult, or recognizing growth that deserves to be celebrated. Wherever you are starting, my goal is to help you feel understood, informed, and less alone.
What it's like working together
I take an individualized and collaborative approach because I don’t believe counseling should look exactly the same for every person. My work is grounded in a person-centered, strengths-based perspective. This means taking the time to understand you while recognizing the strengths and resources you already have.
During our first few sessions, we’ll get to know one another, discuss what brought you in, and explore what you hope will be different through counseling. Together, we’ll identify relevant experiences, patterns, strengths, and current challenges. I may also incorporate practical strategies for managing emotions, navigating relationships, changing unhelpful patterns, and building skills for everyday life.
For assessment clients, we’ll discuss the questions you hope testing can answer and how your concerns affect your daily life. My goal is not simply to give you a score or label. I want the assessment process to help you better understand how you learn, think, focus, or process information—and identify support that fits your needs.
Areas of focus
I provide psychological assessments related to ADHD, cognitive functioning, and learning concerns. I also have experience helping clients with personality and mood disorders, substance use, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions.
My services include:
Psychological assessments
Individual counseling
Group counseling
ADHD and attention-related concerns
Cognitive and learning concerns
Personality and mood disorders
Substance use
Trauma and anxiety
Life transitions
I work with clients across the lifespan. I am currently accepting new psychological assessment clients and have limited availability for individual counseling through telehealth.
Background and training
I am a Temporary Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Iowa. I earned my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Iowa and passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.
I have approximately three years of experience working in mental health. Before graduate school, I spent two years working as a Behavioral Health Technician on an adult psychiatric inpatient unit. I also have approximately one year of experience providing mental health counseling.
I was drawn to this work by my fascination with people—how our brains work, how we experience the world differently, and how our experiences shape the ways we understand ourselves and others. My own experiences with mental health, along with watching people I care about navigate their challenges, showed me how deeply mental health can affect individuals and those who support them.
I’m passionate about creating a space where people feel understood rather than judged and supported rather than expected to figure everything out alone. Outside of my work, I enjoy plants, baking, thrifting, and art.