Amy Manko takes a holistic and empowerment based approach in working with children, teens, adults, and families to overcome their challenges and return to a happier and more peaceful lifestyle. Her focus is on healing, processing, and providing a balance of understanding, growth and application of skill to allow a more healthy and productive life. She will explore how past experiences and relationships impact you today. She will focus on meeting your goals, being open-minded and nonjudgmental, and staying real and relatable. She is a Florida-qualified supervisor for MSW-registered interns seeking licensure. I started this journey with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social sciences, focusing on psychology and anthropology. I took a year off to do some self-reflection and personal growth, before pursuing my MSW. I became a licensed clinical social worker because I wanted to help other people experience the same restoration of their self connection and relationships. I discovered that I love to hear people’s stories, and assist in helping them work through any issues they are experiencing. I have experience in working in the hospice arena, providing grief and loss counseling to children, adults and families; as well as working in an office setting working with people struggling with managing emotions, stresses, relationships, grief and loss, trauma, anxiety and depression, self image and confidence. She understands how chaotic life seems right now as she both has lived it and have walked alongside many on their journey to a better, brighter and lighter tomorrow. There is hope in what feels like a hopeless situation, relationship and/or life.
Client's can expect to have a safe space to share their struggles and gain support. We will begin forming a connection and rapport building and identifying goals to work on in therapy. I will ask questions, learn from my client's what is working and what is not working to then help me to recommend resources, different coping tools, what the blind spots usually are, and what often gets missed. Client's will be able to be heard and walk away from the first session with hope and a plan to help them manage life/ struggles in more healthier ways.
I believe that each person knows themself best and I am here to learn and help sort through what you have been carrying, ask the tough questions as to why, gain clarity and understanding as to how it became part of your story, clean out and sometimes throw out what no longer serves you or your relationship(s). I chose Social Work as it provides the framework to understand the impacts of the social, cultural, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects that play an integral part in shaping a person's life's experiences. It provides us an opportunity to explore all facets of a person’s life in a broader context.
I love working teens and adults who are dealing with life stress, anxiety, depression, anger, changes and transitions, grief and loss, as well as self esteem.
The mind is very powerful. I use CBT so that negative and anxious thoughts can be replaced with positive thoughts and building confidence.
From a therapeutic perspective, it is an awareness of our present moment thinking. It is an openness and non judgement about the experience. It is coupled with CBT as well.
A form of therapy that focuses on a person's strengths. The person is the expert in his or her own life, a strength mindset over a deficient mindset and less emphasis on diagnosis.
The death of a loved one can cause both emotional and physical pain that can sometimes impair your ability to function. grief counseling can help you navigate the aftermath of a loss, process feelings openly, help you accept the loss of your loved one and learn how to reinvest back into life.