Sometimes we encounter challenging life obstacles and can find ourselves feeling distressed, isolated, or stuck in unhealthy patterns. When these difficulties arise, we may bravely reach out for support and guidance from a counselor. I consider it a privilege to partner with my clients as they deepen self-awareness, achieve new insight, and work toward building the life they desire for themselves. I believe therapy should be about you and what's most important to you. I form a therapeutic alliance with my clients in which we work together on the issues that matter most to them.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In sessions, I will partner with you to help you understand unconscious conflicts, identify ineffective coping mechanisms, and address anxiety. We will explore the ways in which you assign meaning to the events that happen in your life and work together to process difficult emotions in a way that enables you to reach your therapeutic goals. I strive to create a safe environment where you can feel accepted, empowered, and understood. I look forward to being part of your journey to wellness and support you in your desire to improve your mental health.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

I align as an Existential Therapist. Existential therapy, created out of the existential philosophy tradition, is a treatment orientation that focuses on the human condition as a whole. One of the primary goals of existential therapy is to help clients face life, and its anxieties head-on and to embrace the freedom of choice humans have, taking full responsibility for their choices as they do so. Therapists trained in existential therapy believe that unhealthy or undesirable behaviors result from an inhibited ability to make authentic, self-directed choices about how to live. Therefore, in therapy, an existential counselor will work with you to focus on your own responsibility and freedom. You will be challenged to think and behave responsibly by confronting internal thoughts, rather than outside pressures. Existential therapy seeks to help clients live more authentically, to be focused on the present (not the past), to be less concerned with superficiality and to find meaning in their lives.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My clients value individuality, authenticity, and collaboration. I believe in fostering an environment where people can express their true selves, embrace their unique qualities, and work together towards shared goals. I welcome individuals from all walks of life and want them to know they are safe in my presence. I am excited to connect with individuals ready to embark on a journey of self-exploration and growth.

About Amanda Surface, M.S.