New to Grow
Hello, I am Amelia, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and I help individuals navigate life’s challenges with compassion and evidence-based care. I use a blend of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral therapy and Trauma Focused CBT, to help clients better understand their thoughts, emotions and behaviors. I work with children and adults to build coping skills, improve communication, obtain healthier relationships and create meaningful change. My approach is friendly, supportive and solution-focused, providing education and guidance to help clients feel heard, empowered and motivated to achieve their goals. I strive to create an environment where you can safely lean into difficult feelings and process your past and present without shame of judgment. It is an honor to be a therapist, and I am dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those I have the opportunity to work with.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session is really about getting to know each other and setting the foundation for our work together. I’ll ask some questions about what brings you to therapy, your background, and any important life experiences that may be helpful for me to understand. If I’m working with a child I’ll typically spend some time with the parent alone, some time with your child alone and some time with the both of you together. We’ll also go over some practical details, like your contact information and emergency contacts. Most importantly, we’ll start identifying your goals for therapy, what you would like to work on, what you hope will feel different, and how I can best support you in that process. My goal is for you to leave the session feeling heard, understood and hopeful about the steps ahead.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I try my best to be genuine, authentic, and compassionate with my clients and the work that we do. I strive to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel validated and understood. Many of my clients have shared that this comfort helps them feel they are not alone and more hopeful. I am able to teach practical skills and strategies and guide clients in exploring unresolved issues. I focus on encouragement, solution-oriented methods and psycho-education, helping clients understand their experiences, apply what they learn, and make meaningful progress towards their goals.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work with adults, children/adolescents, and families. I focus on a wide range of issues, including trauma (neglect, sexual abuse, physical/emotional abuse), grief, divorce/separation, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, communication challenges, behavior issues, parenting challenges, life transitions and low self esteem.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you understand how your thoughts affect your feelings and behaviors. Together we’ll explore patterns in your thinking, identify unhelpful or distorted thoughts, and work on replacing them with healthier and more helpful ways of thinking. This approach can help you better manage your emotions, respond to challenges more effectively and develop practical strategies for creating positive change in your life. Although I may come into session with an idea of what we can tackle, it is always important for me to make sure I am meeting you with where you are at in life. In our sessions we will work collaboratively to break overwhelming problems into manageable steps, using tools such as thought records, behavior activation and skill building exercises. As you develop these skills you gain greater clarity, emotional resilience and a sense of control, creating lasting change both in daily life and in your overall well-being.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is an effective science-backed therapy that helps people build a life worth living. In DBT, you identify what this kind of life looks like for you and learn the skills to make it happen. When utilizing DBT I teach clients how to regulate emotions, utilize distress tolerance skills to cope with moments of crisis and utilize interpersonal effectiveness skills to help clients learn to work through conflict, listen well and effectively ask for what they want.
Relational
I draw on a relational approach that centers the healing power of authentic connection. Meaningful change offend comes not from techniques alone, but from the experience of being genuinely seen, understood and supported. In our sessions I pay close attention to the patterns that emerge between us. Such as how you relate, how you protect yourself, how you want to be met, and we use this dynamic as a safe, real time space for exploration and growth. By slowing down together and staying curious about your emotional experience, we uncover the beliefs and behaviors that may be keeping you stuck. This relational work helps you build confidence, develop new ways of connecting with others, and create a more compassionate relationship with yourself.