(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Amanda Boone, MA, LPC, LCDC. I work with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship struggles, substance use recovery, severe stress, and major life transitions. A lot of the people I work with are used to being the strong one for everyone else while silently falling apart behind the scenes. Others come into therapy feeling stuck in unhealthy patterns, emotionally exhausted, disconnected from themselves, or unsure how to move forward. My approach to therapy is direct, compassionate, trauma-informed, and very human. I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can be honest without feeling judged, analyzed, or talked down to. I’m not the type of therapist who just sits quietly nodding for an hour. I actively engage with clients, provide feedback, challenge unhealthy patterns when needed, and help people develop practical tools they can actually use in everyday life. I utilize evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based interventions, and trauma-informed care, while also adapting treatment to fit each individual rather than forcing people into a one-size-fits-all approach. I believe healing is not about becoming perfect. It is about understanding yourself better, learning healthier ways to cope, improving emotional regulation, and building a life that feels more stable, authentic, and manageable. I know reaching out for therapy can feel uncomfortable, especially if you are used to handling everything on your own. My goal is to create an environment where clients feel supported, understood, challenged when appropriate, and empowered to make meaningful changes that support long-term growth and emotional well-being.
During the first session, we will focus on getting to know each other and building a comfortable foundation for therapy. I will ask questions about your current concerns, emotional struggles, personal history, relationships, stressors, and what you hope to gain from the therapy process. This session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions, share what has or has not worked for you in the past, and determine whether we feel like a good fit for working together. My approach is conversational, collaborative, and judgment-free. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy, and there is no expectation that you share every detail of your life immediately. We move at a pace that feels appropriate while still creating meaningful progress. Some clients come into the first session knowing exactly what they want to work on, while others simply know they are overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, stuck in unhealthy patterns, or struggling to cope. Both are completely okay. Together, we will begin identifying patterns, stressors, goals, and areas that may need support. We may also discuss coping strategies, emotional regulation, relationship dynamics, trauma responses, or practical steps that can help outside of session. My goal is to create an environment where you feel heard, supported, challenged when appropriate, and able to show up as your authentic self without fear of judgment.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to balance compassion with honesty. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I feel genuine, relatable, and easy to talk to while still being direct enough to challenge unhealthy patterns when needed. I believe therapy works best when clients feel emotionally safe, understood, and supported, but also empowered to take accountability and make meaningful changes in their lives. I am especially skilled at working with clients who feel emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, burned out from carrying everything alone, or struggling with long-standing trauma, relationship issues, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, substance use, or chronic stress. I do not believe in a cold, overly clinical, one-size-fits-all approach. I adapt therapy to the individual while using evidence-based methods such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness-based interventions, and trauma-informed care. What makes me unique is my ability to connect with people in a very human and authentic way. I create an environment where clients can be real without feeling judged, criticized, or talked down to. I actively engage in sessions, provide practical feedback, help clients recognize patterns they may not see themselves, and focus on giving tools that are realistic and usable outside of therapy. Clients who work with me are often looking for more than someone who simply listens. They want a therapist who is engaged, emotionally intelligent, supportive, honest, and capable of helping them navigate difficult situations without sugarcoating reality. My goal is to help clients move beyond simply surviving and begin building healthier relationships, stronger emotional stability, improved self-awareness, and a life that feels more manageable and authentic.
I work best with clients who are tired of surface-level conversations and genuinely want to understand themselves, break unhealthy patterns, and create real change. Many of my clients come into therapy feeling emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, burned out from unstable relationships, struggling with trauma, anxiety, substance use, or constantly feeling like they have to hold everything together alone. My approach is direct, compassionate, trauma-informed, and realistic. I believe therapy should feel like a safe place to be honest without judgment, while also helping clients challenge patterns that are no longer serving them. I’m not a therapist who just nods silently for an hour. I actively engage with clients, provide feedback, teach practical coping skills, and help people better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. I especially enjoy working with adults navigating trauma, emotional dysregulation, life transitions, relationship difficulties, severe stress, and recovery-focused goals. My goal is to help clients move beyond simply surviving and begin building healthier, more stable, and more fulfilling lives.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and challenge unhealthy thought patterns, emotional responses, and behaviors that contribute to distress. I assist clients in recognizing cognitive distortions, improving emotional awareness, developing healthier coping strategies, and building problem-solving skills. CBT interventions in my practice often include cognitive restructuring, thought tracking, behavioral activation, psychoeducation, and homework assignments designed to reinforce skills outside of session. I commonly use CBT with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, substance use issues, emotional dysregulation, and life stressors.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to support clients who struggle with emotional regulation, impulsivity, interpersonal conflict, self-destructive behaviors, and distress tolerance difficulties. I incorporate DBT skills such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness into sessions to help clients better manage overwhelming emotions and improve relationships. I frequently use DBT with clients who experience intense emotional reactions, chronic instability, trauma histories, self-harm behaviors, and personality-related challenges.
Motivational Interviewing
I utilize Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients explore ambivalence, increase internal motivation, and strengthen commitment to change. My approach is collaborative and non-confrontational, allowing clients to process resistance while identifying personal values, goals, and barriers to progress. I often use MI techniques such as reflective listening, open-ended questioning, affirmations, and change talk exploration with clients involved in substance use treatment, court-mandated services, behavioral change processes, and treatment engagement difficulties.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I incorporate Person-Centered Therapy principles by creating a supportive, empathetic, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, respected, and validated. I believe the therapeutic relationship itself is a major component of healing and growth. I utilize active listening, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and collaborative communication to support clients in developing self-awareness, autonomy, and confidence throughout the therapeutic process.
Trauma Informed Care
I practice from a trauma-informed perspective by recognizing the impact trauma can have on emotional regulation, relationships, self-worth, attachment, and overall functioning. I prioritize emotional safety, trust-building, empowerment, and stabilization while helping clients process traumatic experiences at an appropriate pace. I incorporate grounding techniques, emotional regulation strategies, psychoeducation about trauma responses, and interventions that reduce shame and increase self-awareness. This approach is especially important when working with clients who have histories of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, grief, or chronic instability.