LMFT, 8 years of experience
I’m Amanda Stoner, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California, providing telehealth services to clients in California, Nevada, and Idaho. I work with adolescents and adults, supporting them through challenges such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem struggles, motivation, ADHD, and executive functioning. In addition to individual concerns, I specialize in helping clients navigate relationship challenges, separation, divorce, and co-parenting. With extensive knowledge of school and special education systems, including IEPs and 504 plans, I’m also equipped to guide families through the often complex world of academic supports and advocacy. My background includes a B.S. in Industrial & Organizational Psychology, which gives me a strong foundation in understanding human motivation and systems, as well as a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and School Counseling. This combination fuels my passion for supporting adolescents and young adults as they move through the challenges of growth, development, and life transitions.
During our first session, we’ll take some time to get to know each other. You’ll have the opportunity to share what brings you to therapy and what goals you’d like to work toward. I’ll also explain a bit about how I work and answer any questions you might have about therapy in general or my approach specifically. My priority is making sure we’re a good fit and that you feel as comfortable as possible sharing what’s on your mind.
My greatest strengths as a therapist lie in creating a safe, supportive, and client-centered environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their challenges, thoughts, and feelings without judgment. I believe my reflective, empathetic, and non-judgmental communication style helps clients feel validated in their emotions and experiences. I view my clients as the experts on their own lives, and I see my role as a collaborative partner, someone who explores, brainstorms, guides, and coaches alongside them as they work toward their goals. Ultimately, I am dedicated to helping clients become the best versions of themselves within a relaxed, supportive space.
I am passionate about supporting both adolescents and adults as they navigate life’s complexities. For adolescents, I provide a safe and supportive space to work through challenges such as academic stress, peer relationships, identity development, and family dynamics. For adults, I offer therapy for concerns including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, work-related stress, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. My goal is to help each client build resilience, gain clarity, and feel more empowered in their daily lives.
Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I work collaboratively with teens and adults to understand and change the complex interplay of thoughts, feelings, and actions. Together, we'll explore the connections between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, identifying the root causes of your distress. I'll guide you in developing practical, personalized strategies for managing these challenges, fostering greater self-awareness and empowering you to create lasting positive change in your life.
In my collaborative work with teens and adults, I utilize humanistic principles to create a supportive and non-judgmental space for exploring authentic selves. Believing in your inherent capacity for growth, we'll identify obstacles hindering your journey toward self-actualization. This client-centered approach emphasizes your unique experiences, empowering you to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Together, we'll work towards realizing your full potential and creating positive change.
You have the ability to create positive change. My collaborative approach empowers teens and adults to discover their inner strengths and achieve their goals through Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). With extensive experience in SFBT, I guide clients in developing practical strategies, emphasizing hope and optimism while focusing on what works well to create lasting results. For teens, this might involve exploring strengths and using relatable language to address challenges like social anxiety or academic pressure, such as identifying strategies for building stronger friendships. For adults, I address concerns like work stress or relationship issues, focusing on practical solutions and manageable steps toward their goals. I'm passionate about empowering clients to live fulfilling lives.
The process of positive change is facilitated by Motivational Interviewing (MI) in my work with teens and adults, where we discover and strengthen their own internal drive for positive change. This client-centered approach focuses on identifying your personal goals, understanding and working through any ambivalence you might be experiencing, and creating strategies that reflect what truly matters to you. MI puts you in the driver's seat, empowering you to make informed decisions and guide your own path towards lasting change.
Teens and adults can find healing and growth through psychodynamic therapy, which explores the unconscious patterns influencing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, within a strong therapeutic relationship. Through collaborative exploration of past experiences and relationships, we understand how they contribute to present challenges, addressing concerns like anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. This process of self-discovery empowers clients to gain deeper insights, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and create lasting positive change by identifying root causes. Together, we examine how past experiences shape current emotional well-being, fostering self-awareness and promoting long-term healing.
8 ratings with written reviews
August 15, 2025
Amanda always has great ideas for me to try and help organize my life better around my illness and other issues that arise. She helps calm me down and makes me feel like things are more feasible. She helps me tackle big projects by breaking them down into more manageable parts.
August 3, 2025
I’ve had two sessions with Amanda so far, and I’m very much looking forward to our next one! She is kind and asks the right questions to get me thinking. She is solution-oriented, which is exactly what I need. Her warmth and authenticity are truly appreciated!
July 18, 2025
My first session was comfortable and open.