LCSW, 6 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! My name is Amelia, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a Bachelors in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University, Graduate School of Social Service. I have 6+ years of experience providing school-based, community, and telehealth services to clients across the lifespan—ranging from preteens to older adults, as well as parents/caregivers/families. I most often support clients navigating child and adolescent concerns, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, depression, family and relationship challenges, grief and loss, identity and self-esteem, life transitions, and the ongoing impact of racial and systemic stressors. My style is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. I show up as a real person—someone who listens closely, reflects what I’m hearing, and gently but honestly names patterns that may be keeping you stuck, whether mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, etc. I believe you are the expert on your own life and family; my role is to help you make sense of what’s been heavy, honor your story and culture, build on your strengths, and partner with you as you explore and develop practical tools you can use outside of our time together.
Our first session is really about getting to know you (and, when appropriate, your child or teen) and making sure you feel safe, seen, and heard. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what’s been feeling heavy or overwhelming lately, and what you’re hoping might feel different in your life, your family, or your relationships. You do not have to share everything at once—we’ll move at a pace that feels manageable for you. I’ll ask some gentle questions about different parts of your world: work or school, home and family, friendships/relationships, mood, stress, coping, and any past therapy or supports you’ve tried. I’ll also explain how I work, what therapy with me usually looks like, and go over confidentiality and its limits so you know exactly where your information goes. You’ll have space to ask me questions, name any worries you have about starting (or restarting) therapy, and tell me what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past. As a younger, Black female therapist, I know it can be hard to find someone who “gets it,” especially if you’ve felt unseen, dismissed, or misunderstood by helpers or systems before. In our work, your culture, identity, and lived experiences are welcome in the room—you don’t have to shrink them, leave them at the door, or spend the whole time educating me (unless you want to). I value authenticity, integrity, and transparency, so I’ll be honest with you about what I can offer, what I’m seeing clinically, and I’ll always invite your feedback if something doesn’t feel like a fit. By the end of the first session, we’ll start to name a few clear, shared goals and outline a preliminary plan that feels realistic, manageable, and relevant to your life right now. My hope is that you leave our first session with a better sense of who I am, how I show up, and a felt sense that you don’t have to carry everything alone.
What tends to stand out about my approach is that I bring equal parts empathy, honesty, and practicality. I’m skilled at connecting with youth, young adults, and families in a way that feels genuine, non-judgmental, and culturally responsive. I really do try to show up for my clients the way I would want a therapist to show up for me—present, open-minded, validating, and willing to see the full context of your life rather than reducing you to a diagnosis or “behavior.” I have strong perspective-taking skills, which means I’m always trying to understand your experience from your point of view—how your history, culture, faith, environment, and responsibilities shape the way you think, feel, and cope. I’m compassionate and direct: I’ll sit with you in the hard and painful moments, and I’ll also offer honest reflections and practical strategies you can start using between sessions. If something I’m doing doesn’t feel helpful, I invite that feedback and adjust; therapy with me is a partnership, not a one-way street. Because of my background in schools and community settings, I understand how stress at home, school, work, and in the world can pile up and show up as “behavior,” shutdown, or burnout. I pay attention to all those layers—family dynamics, racial and systemic stress, social media, neighborhood, and community—and I weave them into our work so the tools we use actually make sense for your real life. My goal is for you to feel deeply seen, thoughtfully challenged, and consistently supported as we work side by side toward the changes that matter most to you.
I’m especially well-positioned to support you if you’re a teen or young adult who feels like you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders—school stress, expectations from others, big emotions, or feeling unsure about who you are and where you’re headed. Maybe you’re the “strong one,” the quiet one, the funny one, or the “responsible” one, and people don’t always see how much you’re actually struggling inside. With you, I’m focused on creating a space where you don’t have to perform, explain everything perfectly, or have it all figured out. I also work closely with parents and caregivers who love their child or teen deeply but feel stuck, worried, or exhausted trying to support them. You might be noticing shifts in mood, motivation, behavior, or attitude and are unsure what’s “normal,” what’s trauma or stress, and what to do next. Together, we’ll work on understanding what’s really going on underneath the surface, learning new ways to respond, and feeling more grounded and confident in your role. I am particularly committed to serving young people and families of color, especially Black youth and caregivers, who are carrying not only personal and family stress, but also racial, cultural, and systemic pressures. You may be navigating environments where you feel unseen, misunderstood, or held to a different standard. In our work, your culture, identity, and lived experiences are not an afterthought—they are centered, honored, and woven into the healing process. I’m also a good fit for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or major life transitions—including changes in school, work, relationships, health, or family roles. Many of my clients are thoughtful, high-capacity people who are used to pushing through, taking care of everyone else, or “holding it together,” even when they’re falling apart inside. If you’re at the point where you’re ready for support that is real, compassionate, culturally responsive, and actually useful in your day-to-day life, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
We slow things down and really look at the story your mind is telling you—especially the parts that are harsh, anxious, or stuck on worst-case scenarios. Together, we notice unhelpful thinking patterns, gently test them against your real-life evidence, and explore more balanced ways of seeing yourself and your situation. I bring a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens to this work, honoring the ways your thoughts may have helped you survive past experiences while also supporting you in building new patterns that feel safer and more empowering in the present. From there, we practice new ways of thinking and responding so you can feel more grounded, confident, and in control of your choices day to day, within the realities of your home, school, work, and community.
Helping you make sense of big emotions and move from feeling overwhelmed and out of control to feeling more grounded and intentional. We build real, practical, and relevant coping skills—how to ride out emotional waves without shutting down, act on your values instead of urges, and speak up for what you need in relationships. I’m always paying attention to the systems you’re moving through (family, school, work, culture, social media, racism and other systemic pressures) so your skills actually fit your world, not just a worksheet. Over time, DBT skills become a personalized toolbox you can lean on in tough moments, so you’re not just reacting—you’re navigating your life with more clarity, choice, self-respect, and self-compassion.
We go beyond just addressing your pain; I actively listen for your goals, values, and the life you’re trying to build for yourself and your family. We highlight moments when you’ve already coped, persevered, or shown resilience—even in small, quiet ways—and treat those as proof of your existing strength, not accidents. I bring a culturally responsive, systems-aware lens to this work by acknowledging how your environment, identities, and lived experiences shape what feels possible right now. From there, we turn your strengths into concrete, realistic next steps, so you leave sessions with clear, practical changes to try immediately, rather than feeling stuck repeating the same story.
Mindfulness isn’t simply a technique to “empty your mind,” but also upholds the need to slow down, pause, and be truly present with what’s happening inside you. We use accessible, culturally relevant centering practices—grounding, body awareness and movement, journaling, breathing exercises—to help you notice your internal experience without judgment or shame. I’m mindful of how trauma, chronic stress, racism, and ongoing life demands can make it hard to feel safe in your own body, so we move at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of your history. Over time, mindfulness becomes a powerful way to put a pause between what you feel and what you choose to do next, especially in high-stress or triggering situations.
We start by cultivating a sense of safety, trust, and collaboration within the therapeutic and family relationship—especially for youth and families who have had painful and/or complex experiences with systems in the past. We begin by developing coping skills like naming emotions, self-soothing, and building a sense of presence and control, then gently move into processing the trauma story at a pace that feels safe and not overwhelming. Honoring the impact of family history, community, culture, racism, and other systemic factors on how trauma shows up, we use protective, strengths-based strategies to uncover hurt and pain while also restoring a sense of hope, connection, and community. Caregiver involvement (when appropriate) is key, so the young person isn’t doing this work alone and the adults around them feel equipped to support healing both inside and outside of session.