Leeann Pennington, M.ed, LPC

Leeann is a trauma-certified, Licensed Professional Counselor in both Missouri and Colorado. She received her Master’s of Education in Counseling from the University of Missouri, St.Louis in 2012. She is the owner of Pennington Counseling Services, which offers mental health therapy to adolescent and adult individuals.

 

Leeann is the proud mother of two young boys and has been married to her husband for over a decade. As a family, they enjoy hiking, mushroom hunting, and gardening. She also proudly volunteers with the Court Appointed Special Advocates program, where she provides support and advocacy for a child in foster care.

 

When she is not practicing therapy, Leeann likes to write about all different types of mental health and parenting topics. You can find more about her here.

Leeann Pennington
Close-up shot of young caregiver trying to comfort and calm down a crying child.

Development

How Fearful Avoidant Attachment Develops in Childhood

Is your child struggling with emotional regulation, incongruent behaviors, and boundaries with strangers? Fearful avoidant attachment may be to blame.

Crying little boy asks his mother's candy.

Parenting

What’s the Difference Between a Tantrum and a Meltdown?

Wondering if your child is having a tantrum or a meltdown? Read this article to know the difference between these emotional outbursts!

High five gesture team in classroom.

Autism, Special Needs

Using Extinction in Applied Behavior Analysis with Kids

Are you unsure of how to manage your child’s problem behaviors? Learn if the ABA Extinction Method could be right for you and your child!

Small toddler or baby kid playing with puzzle shapes.

Development

7 Cognitive Activities for Preschoolers

Cognitive development activities for preschoolers develop critical thinking and processing skills while having fun!

Mom gently hugged her daughter.

Sensory Activities

Tactile Sensitivity: What Parents Need to Know

Worried your child may have tactile sensitivity? Here is all you need to know.

Boy with autism spectrum disorder bite hand and negative expression behavior.

Autism

Managing Repetitive or Stereotyped Behavior in Autism

Struggling with repetitive behaviors in your child with autism? Learn how to understand and manage these behaviors.

Kids learns to draw with their teacher in a daycare center.

Education

Daycare Pros and Cons: What Parents Should Know

When deciding whether to send your child to daycare or not, there are many things to consider. Find out the pros and cons of daycare to help you decide.

Young boy looking at a light up toy in a dark room.

Toys, Visual Impairment

10 Cortical Visual Impairment Toys for Kids With CVI

It's important to choose toys that are relatively simple in design, as complex patterns can be overwhelming for children with CVI.

Young mother holding her newborn child.

Sleep

Gentle Sleep Training: No-Cry Methods for Better Sleep

Are you awake again at 3 am to soothe a crying baby? Are you ready for a good night’s sleep? Gentle Sleep Training could be just the answer you need!

Mother trying to embrace and talk to upset daughter.

Behavior

7 Alternatives to Spanking for Positive Parenting

Is your house filled with yelling, arguments, and physical aggression? These alternatives to spanking are exactly what you need!

A cute one month old newborn baby is crying in the crib.

Sleep

Cry It Out Sleep Training: Is It Harmful?

Cry it Out, or CIO, is an extinction sleep training method that involves your baby being placed in his crib awake and left to cry, fuss, or whine for an...

Cute little boy taking off his sock at the park

Behavior, Development

Self Help Skills: Helping Your Child Achieve Independence

Self help skills are behaviors or activities performed by your child which lead to them developing more independence and autonomy.