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Amber Portwood’s Daughter Urged to Seek Therapy After Years of Teen Mom Trauma

BBG News

The reality TV personality, Amber Portwood, has been advised for her daughter (who resembles her) to seek counseling to help manage the emotional impact stemming from her past experiences.

Last Thursday, an episode of “Teen Mom: The Next Chapter” featured Leah, who is 16 years old and has been co-parented by Portwood, aged 34, with ex Gary Shirley, aged 38. In this episode, her father proposed the idea of trying therapy to Leah.

In simpler terms, Leah resides with Gary, her stepmother Kristina, and her younger sister Emilee Grace. Meanwhile, Amber, who faced her own challenges during the early stages of season 2 of the MTV reality show, is granted visitation rights.

The idea of visiting a counselor was proposed by another father in the series, Tyler Baltierra, who shared with Gary his personal experience of how therapy had positively impacted his relationship with his father.

During their conversation about seeking assistance, Leah brought up the fact that one of her classmates had shared with her a link to an old Teen Mom video clip they found on TikTok.

She explained to her father that it feels strange for her, as she’s been noticing numerous TikTok videos featuring old clips. When he asked if they were distressing to observe, she agreed they were odd to watch. She went on to say that it’s disconcerting because it usually involves Amber yelling at the audience, and then you exit.

Additionally, she mentioned another video segment where she can be heard exclaiming, “What’s wrong with Leah, why is she crying?” This occurred when she was in a totally different room, leaving me behind. It feels strange and awkward, I believe. Watching those moments is particularly hard because it brings back memories of little me.

After that, the program played the video Leah had mentioned, followed by additional videos depicting similar scenarios.

Gary mentioned that therapy could assist Leah in finding ‘acceptance’ for Amber, ‘healing’ from her past traumas, and ‘moving forward’ in life.

In her own words, she expressed her difficulty in forgiving someone, saying she could benefit from having a mentor who could show her the way.

As I reflect on my experiences, I gradually came to acknowledge the void when she wasn’t by my side – a void that stemmed from my struggles with abandonment. Yet, I understand that numerous factors conspire to keep her from being consistently present in my life.

It seems as though the daily impact of this fear is palpable, as I constantly worry that my stepmother, Kristina, might abandon me, or that others may depart without cause.

Towards the end of the program, Gary told Kristina that he scheduled a therapy session for Leah, and Kristina shared that it had been four months since they last heard from Amber.

What he does seems to manipulate her feelings. As for the future, it appears we should follow whatever Leah prefers.

Gary concurred, emphasizing that Leah was entitled to confidentiality regarding her choice. “She may choose to discuss it with her counselor, sharing anything she wishes without disclosure. Consequently, if she prefers to keep the information private from her mother, then that decision stands.

Following the meeting, Gary mentioned that his daughter hadn’t spoken a lot. He chose not to ask more as he didn’t want to intrude or probe further.

In his own confessional, Gary said Leah was his priority. 

When interacting with Leah, I prefer to let her thoughts and emotions guide our conversation, as it seems to move difficult questions away from me and onto a professional’s plate. Ultimately, it’s Leah who holds significance in this scenario.

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2025-02-21 20:48

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