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Leann Diederich
About
Hello and welcome. I’m glad you’re here.My name is Dr. Leann Diederich, and I am a licensed psychologist currently based in Pennsylvania, with the ability to work with clients across multiple states through PSYPACT, as well as those in New York and Hawaii. I specialize in psychological assessment, and I’m particularly passionate about helping adults better understand themselves through thoughtful, thorough evaluations. I know that seeking an assessment can come with a mix of emotions, including curiosity, hope, uncertainty, and sometimes even frustration from feeling misunderstood in the past. My goal is to create a space where you feel respected, heard, and taken seriously. I approach this work with care and intention, taking the time to understand your experiences in a way that feels collaborative rather than rushed or overly clinical. I’m especially passionate about supporting individuals who may have gone unrecognized earlier in life and are now looking for clarity. I view assessment not just as a process of determining a diagnosis, but as an opportunity to organize your experiences, highlight your strengths, and provide meaningful insight that you can actually use in your daily life.
My interest in working with autistic and neurodivergent adults grew out of a gap I saw in clinical practice. I often worked with individuals who were insightful and motivated, but didn’t have a framework that fully explained their experiences. That lack of clarity can lead to self-doubt or a sense of being out of step without understanding why. I’m especially drawn to working with adults because neurodivergence can be less visible over time. Many people have developed ways of adapting or masking that helped them function in different settings, but often at a personal cost. By adulthood, this can show up as burnout, anxiety, or a persistent feeling of not quite fitting. I value how meaningful accurate identification and psychoeducation can be. A thoughtful assessment can provide clarity, help organize your experiences, and offer a more compassionate understanding of yourself. My goal is to support you in making sense of those patterns so you can move forward with greater self-understanding and intention.
I take an affirming, strengths-based approach that centers on understanding you as a whole person, not just a set of symptoms or challenges. That means paying close attention to your patterns of thinking, problem-solving, relationships, and the ways you’ve adapted over time, and recognizing the strengths within those patterns. In working with neurodivergent adults, I’m especially mindful of how much effort often goes into masking or trying to meet expectations that may not naturally fit. Rather than viewing those experiences as deficits, I approach them with curiosity and respect, helping you make sense of what has worked, what has been costly, and what may need to shift moving forward. During the assessment process, I aim to create a space where you feel comfortable being honest about your experiences without needing to filter or perform. I listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect back themes in a way that helps you see yourself more clearly. When we review results, I focus on helping you understand your cognitive and emotional patterns in a way that feels practical and meaningful, not just clinical. My goal is for you to leave the process with a clearer sense of your strengths, a more compassionate understanding of your challenges, and a framework that helps you move through your life with greater confidence and alignment.
