Meet Leanne Pilgrim

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leanne Pilgrim. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leanne below.

Leanne, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I would consider myself a lifelong learner. I am always trying new things and am open to new experiences. I actually fell into my original career path. I intended to enter college as a pre-med student, then changed my major to psychology on a whim. I remember being asked to write my major down and totally spaced on how to spell it (which really made me wonder if I made the right decision)! It turned out to be the perfect fit. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I completed a Master’s program and became a therapist. My first job was working with children who experienced abuse, neglect, or witnessed domestic violence. It was hard work, but I absolutely loved it.

I thought my path was only about helping people heal through therapy. I poured myself into working with children and families who had experienced trauma. I learned how creativity, connection, and play could open doors that words alone couldn’t. But over time, I realized something important: my passion wasn’t limited to the therapy room—it was about design, creativity, and building spaces where people feel seen and supported.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Leanne Pilgrim. I am a therapist-turned-designer, mother of four, and the founder of the trauma-informed parenting resource, KidLogic Labs. Right now, I’m balancing two worlds that light me up in different ways. My design company, Leanne Pilgrim Consulting & Design, allows me to help businesses and organizations tell their stories online through thoughtful, user-friendly websites and branding. My background in psychology shapes how I approach design. I’m always thinking about the human experience first, making sure digital spaces feel clear, welcoming, and true to the client’s voice.

The income from my design work fuels my passion project: KidLogic Labs, relaunching on 11-11-25. Here, my training in trauma-informed care, my design skills, and my experience as both a therapist and parent come together to give families tools that support emotional health. From creative activities for kids to practical strategies for parents, KidLogic Labs makes social-emotional learning both fun and accessible. Because parenting isn’t just about raising children—it’s also about navigating your own history. Parents carrying unhealed trauma may find those moments resurfacing under stress, and children who have been through trauma often need something different: patience, consistency, and caregivers who can understand the “why” behind challenging behaviors.

To me, these two worlds aren’t separate at all—they’re both about designing spaces where people feel understood, supported, and empowered. My background in psychology shapes everything I do. It allows me to build websites that don’t just look good, but feel good to use. And it drives the work I’m doing with KidLogic Labs—developing activities, digital downloads, and workshops that help parents and kids connect in ways that are creative, fun, and emotionally healthy. At the heart of all my work is connection: helping families thrive and helping businesses shine through thoughtful, inspiring, and intentional design.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are grit, resilience, and a love of learning.

Grit has been essential in pushing through challenges and pursuing big goals even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed. It’s what allowed me to take risks, start new ventures, and keep going when the work felt overwhelming. Grit is what brought KidLogic Labs back to life. I started the project years ago, but it fizzled out under the weight of everything else on my plate. Still, the vision never left me. That persistence—the refusal to let go of something I knew mattered—pushed me to relaunch. Now, with more clarity and experience, I’m bringing it back stronger than before. And if it fails, it fails. I just know I would never forgive myself if I didn’t give it my best shot.

Resilience has been the quality that has carried me through the setbacks. Life doesn’t unfold in straight lines, and every pivot (from therapy to design to building KidLogic Labs) has required me to adapt, recover, and keep moving forward with hope and determination. I don’t let the fear of failure or worries about what people will think hold me back. Vulnerability is so scary, but I truly believe it opens the doors for growth and connection.

Finally, my love of learning has been the fuel for everything I do. I like to describe myself as relentlessly curious. I am always reaching for new knowledge, new skills, and new perspectives. That curiosity has led me to dive deeper into trauma-informed care, explore the ever-changing world of design, and discover creative new ways to support families. For me, learning isn’t just about gathering information; it’s about staying open, adaptable, and inspired. It’s what keeps me evolving as a professional, a parent, and a person.

For anyone just starting out, my advice is this: let grit keep you moving toward your goals, let resilience remind you that setbacks don’t define you, and let your love of learning open doors you never imagined. When you bring those three qualities together, you’ll not only build skills—you’ll build a foundation that can carry you anywhere.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes! Collaboration is one of my favorite parts of this work. With Leanne Pilgrim Consulting & Design, I love partnering with businesses, nonprofits, and creative entrepreneurs who want to build digital spaces that truly reflect their story and connect with their audience. And with KidLogic Labs, I’m especially excited to collaborate with fellow parents, educators, therapists, artists, and organizations who are passionate about social-emotional learning and trauma-informed care.

I believe the best ideas grow when they’re shared, and I’d love to connect with folks who are as committed to supporting families and communities as I am. If you’re reading this and feel a spark, you can reach out through my website or connect with me on social media—I’d love to start a conversation about what we could create together!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photographer: Amber Ballard

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