Gary Shirley Supports Daughter Leah's Therapy Journey to Handle 'Abandonment Issues' from Estranged Mom Amber Portwood

Mar. 15, 2025

Gary Shirleyis supporting his daughter’s pursuit of healing.

The latest episode ofTeen Mom: The Next Chapterfeatures the father of two supporting his oldest, 16-year-old Leah, as she decides to pursue therapy.

Early in the episode, Leah is in the room as her dad FaceTimes with costarTyler Baltierra, who is trying to heal from parental absence. Baltierra talks about how therapy was crucial for him.

“As someone who started therapy super young, like dude, I wouldn’t even be here, I don’t think, without it,” Baltierra candidly shares.

“It’s just weird. I’ve been seeing a lot of TikTok videos with old clips and stuff,” the teen shares.

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Gary asks if some of those clips are painful to watch. Viewers of16 & PregnantandTeen Momhave seen Gary and exAmber Portwoodthrough some high highs and low lows, including instances of domestic violence.

“I see the older ones from when I was like 2 and it’s just weird to watch because it’s always just Amber screaming at you and you leave,” she says. “There was one clip where she’s like, ‘Why is Leah crying?’ when she was in a complete opposite room, just leaving me. It’s weird. I think those ones are painful to watch because it’s little me.”

A clip plays of the fight Leah’s talking about, which includes Amber cursing and fighting with Gary before kicking him out and telling a crying toddler Leah, “Daddy left you again.”

After the clip plays, Leah tells Gary, “I just think I have a lot of issues because of Amber and the experiences that I’ve had.”

“I know,” Gary, who looks to be getting emotional, replies. “Honestly, Leah, no joke, I wish I would have done more. I wish I would have taken you and left instantly and not like left you there. It wasn’t like she technically had custody. Like in Indiana —”

“It’s okay, I don’t remember it,” she says, to which Gary points out, “I don’t know if that’s a trauma thing… your brain shuts off the bad stuff.”

Gary then asks Leah if she’d like to start going to therapy and she says yes, adding, “I want to overcome that so I can forgive her and move on. I think it would help to have someone to guide me on how to forgive someone, because it’s hard for me to do that.”

In a heartwrenching confessional, Leah opens up about what she’s been through as a result of the rocky relationship with her mom.

“I’m not sure when I realized she wasn’t there but I know that I do have abandonment issues from her not being around. But I do know that there’s a lot of things going on that makes it difficult for her to be able to be there for me,” Leah says.

“And I feel like it does effect me everyday because I’m always scared that [stepmom] Kristina is gonna leave me. I’m always scared that people are just going to leave me for no reason.”

Later, Gary talks to wife Kristina Shirley about his conversation with Leah. Gary explains he’ll do the necessary paperwork for Kristina to also participate, but doesn’t think they should involve Amber.

“I know she doesn’t want to share anything with Amber,” Gary says.

Kristina points out, “We’re at four months again with no contact. So I mean, that just plays with her emotions and I think, moving forward, I think you and I just have to go with what Leah wants.”

On the ride to the appointment, Gary tells Leah, “That’s your space so I want you to have a bond and a trust with the therapist.”

Later in the day, Gary and Kristina discussed what they thought about from what Leah said about her appointment.

“Do you think it would ever be helpful for Leah and Amber to do therapy together?” Kristina asks.

“No,' Gary replies. “Now it’s to a point where you’re giving up on somebody that’s given up on you. There’s a difference there. She built a boundary where you know, ‘I’m not going to allow myself to keep getting hurt because it’s hurting me. It’s messing with me.'”

Gary then says Amber would need “luck” to get anything out of the courts being involved in the matter, adding, “It’ll get worse for you when you do that because it will 100% change. Everything will change.”

source: people.com