(she/her)
Hello! My name is Amelia, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have 4+ years of experience providing school-based, community, and telehealth services to clients across the lifespan—ranging from preteens to older adults, as well as parents/caregivers/families. I most often support clients navigating child and adolescent concerns, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, depression, family and relationship challenges, grief and loss, identity and self-esteem, life transitions, and the ongoing impact of racial and systemic stressors.
My style is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. I show up as a real person—someone who listens closely, reflects what I’m hearing, and gently but honestly names patterns that may be keeping you stuck, whether mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, etc. I believe you are the expert on your own life and family; my role is to help you make sense of what’s been heavy, honor your story and culture, build on your strengths, and partner with you as you explore and develop practical tools you can use outside of our time together. Our first session is really about getting to know you and making sure you feel safe, seen, and heard. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what’s been feeling heavy or overwhelming lately, and what you’re hoping might feel different in your life, your family, or your relationships. I’ll also explain how I work, what therapy with me usually looks like, and go over confidentiality and its limits so you know exactly where your information goes. By the end of the first session, we’ll start to name a few clear, shared goals and outline a preliminary plan that feels realistic, manageable, and relevant to your life right now. My hope is that you leave our first session with a better sense of who I am, how I show up, and a felt sense that you don’t have to carry everything alone.
What tends to stand out about my approach is that I bring equal parts empathy, honesty, and practicality. I’m skilled at connecting with youth, young adults, and families in a way that feels genuine, non-judgmental, and culturally responsive. I really do try to show up for my clients the way I would want a therapist to show up for me—present, open-minded, validating, and willing to see the full context of your life rather than reducing your concern to a diagnosis or “behavior.”
I’m especially well-positioned to support you if you’re a young adult who feels like you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders—school stress, expectations from others, big emotions, or feeling unsure about who you are and where you’re headed. Maybe you’re the “strong one,” the quiet one, the funny one, or the “responsible” one, and people don’t always see how much you’re actually struggling inside. With you, I’m focused on creating a space where you don’t have to perform, explain everything perfectly, or have it all figured out. I am particularly committed to serving young people and families of color, especially Black youth and caregivers, who are carrying not only personal and family stress, but also racial, cultural, and systemic pressures. You may be navigating environments where you feel unseen, misunderstood, or held to a different standard. In our work, your culture, identity, and lived experiences are not an afterthought—they are centered, honored, and woven into the healing process. I’m also a good fit for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or major life transitions—including changes in school, work, relationships, health, or family roles. Many of my clients are thoughtful, high-capacity people who are used to pushing through, taking care of everyone else, or “holding it together,” even when they’re falling apart inside. If you’re at the point where you’re ready for support that is real, compassionate, culturally responsive, and actually useful in your day-to-day life, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
We slow things down and really look at the story your mind is telling you—especially the parts that are harsh, anxious, or stuck on worst-case scenarios. Together, we notice unhelpful thinking patterns, gently test them against your real-life evidence, and explore more balanced ways of seeing yourself and your situation. I bring a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens to this work, honoring the ways your thoughts may have helped you survive past experiences while also supporting you in building new patterns that feel safer and more empowering in the present. From there, we practice new ways of thinking and responding so you can feel more grounded, confident, and in control of your choices day to day, within the realities of your home, school, work, and community.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness isn’t simply a technique to “empty your mind,” but also upholds the need to slow down, pause, and be truly present with what’s happening inside you. We use accessible, culturally relevant centering practices—grounding, body awareness and movement, journaling, breathing exercises—to help you notice your internal experience without judgment or shame. I’m mindful of how trauma, chronic stress, racism, and ongoing life demands can make it hard to feel safe in your own body, so we move at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of your history. Over time, mindfulness becomes a powerful way to put a pause between what you feel and what you choose to do next, especially in high-stress or triggering situations.
Trauma-Focused CBT
We start by cultivating a sense of safety, trust, and collaboration within the therapeutic and family relationship—especially for youth and families who have had painful and/or complex experiences with systems in the past. We begin by developing coping skills like naming emotions, self-soothing, and building a sense of presence and control, then gently move into processing the trauma story at a pace that feels safe and not overwhelming. Honoring the impact of family history, community, culture, racism, and other systemic factors on how trauma shows up, we use protective, strengths-based strategies to uncover hurt and pain while also restoring a sense of hope, connection, and community. Caregiver involvement (when appropriate) is key, so the young person isn’t doing this work alone and the adults around them feel equipped to support healing both inside and outside of session.