Meet Our Team - Sally Lymangrover Connors
Sally Lymangrover Connors
Position at the Hallowell Todaro ADHD Center:
Therapist
How long have you been working at Hallowell Todaro ADHD?
5 months
Where did you grow up?
Edgewood, WA but since college I have lived up and down the I5 corridor from Mill Creek, Shoreline, Maple Leaf, and Greenlake to Sumner. I am now “south sound proud” as we like to say, returning to the area I grew up as a child.
What are your favorite books / TV shows / movies?
I love documentaries and true crime series. My recent favorite has been “Stutz” which is a focus on actor Jonah Hill’s therapist (Dr. Phil Stutz) as he shares his therapy philosophy and the tools he teaches in therapy.
What’s your favorite sport and/or sports team?
Go Huskies!!
Complete the following sentences:
When I’m not at work, you can find me...
with my 3 kids (11, 7, and 5y/o) and our 3 y/o yellow lab “Summer”. Usually hanging out at home, going to the park, or traveling. We love to go on local trips as well as bigger trips to experience other cultures. Last December we were able to go to Costa Rica!
When I want to de-stress, I...
go for a walk, talk to one of my 3 older sisters or mom, take a bath or watch tv.
My favorite time of year is...
fall; it’s the best season!
My favorite thing to cook is...
baked goods --- cookies, sweet breads, pastries, etc.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d go to...
somewhere with a beach or historical architecture and scenery… or even better both like Mykonos or Capri!
The best gift I ever received was…
my mother-in-law gifted me with a completed baby book for my oldest daughter. I was so overwhelmed that first year of motherhood and felt so much guilt about not keeping up with her baby book. I cried when she gave it to me at her first birthday party.
What led you to pursue a career in helping others?
I originally wanted to be an architect but was dismayed by how many math courses I would need to take. When I was talking to the college advisor about the things I enjoy doing which included volunteer work she introduced me to the field of social work. From there one thing led to another as journeyed from working as a child advocate in domestic violence and transitional housing shelters to then working in pediatric and maternal fetal medicine hospital units, school-based therapy and eventually finding my way to the field of outpatient therapy.
What education, skills and expertise do you bring to your role?
I obtained my independent clinical license in 2017 and have been practicing outpatient behavioral health therapy since that time. I have worked in multiple settings including a rural pediatric clinic and as part of a behavioral health team in elementary school; I feel this provides me a variety of knowledge of both the medical and educational systems which can be helpful when navigating supports for ADHD. Additionally, I have two children diagnosed with ADHD and was diagnosed as an adult myself.
Who/what inspires you?
My patients are what inspires me most. It is difficult to describe the feeling of seeing a patient mastering a skill that they previously struggled with and to see patients transform in their awareness and pride around their ADHD super powers. I feel such a sense of gratitude for every patient and family that allows me to be part of their journey because it is a truly brave thing to invite a stranger into your life and to be open to change and working on some things.
What’s your personal philosophy/approach toward the work you do?
Behavioral health can feel like such a mysterious thing to people so I like I focus heavily on education. I feel that if we understand how our brain is working and can become more in tune with ourselves then we all have the power to better care for ourselves. I am not the expert in you, I am here to share my knowledge about mental health and methods that have been found effective for other people to help you succeed in the ways that are important to you and your family.
What is one small thing people can do to improve their lives / increase their happiness?
Just that… focusing on one small thing at a time. I often say to patients that I am a fan of making small changes, one thing at a time… it is the only way for change to be sustainable. What that thing is depends on what is going on for each patient. It could be focusing on physical health (such as sleep, eating at regular intervals, moving your body more) or it could be about connecting more with your family and friends or it could be about connecting more to yourself (tracking your moods, practicing mindfulness skills, practicing more awareness of self talk) etc. Everyone’s lives are unique, so their goals are unique.
We provide a range of support for people with ADHD.