LMSW-C, 7 years of experience
Hi! My name is Amanda (she/her) and I'm a neurodivergent Licensed Master of Social Worker (LMSW) based in Michigan. I received my Master's degree from Western Michigan University with a 'Trauma Across the Lifespan' specialization in 2018. I have been practicing trauma-focused therapy for 6 years. I enjoy helping those struggling with the effects of trauma through their darkest moments toward a brighter future.
We'll start getting to know each other in our first session. We will go over your intake paperwork together, and I will ask questions to make sure I have a good understanding. You are welcome to ask me questions about the therapy process, my education, training, and experience, as well as questions to get to know who I am as a person. The goal is to feel comfortable with each other, and for me to be able to gain a deeper understanding of what brought you to therapy. We'll also dive into the specific challenges you're facing, and collaboratively identify goals for us to work on in follow-up sessions.
Healing from trauma is a topic close to my heart. Having lived experience with complex trauma, as well as witnessing the profound impact trauma can have on individuals' lives and the incredible strength and resilience that lies within individuals in the face of unimaginable adversity, ignited my passion for trauma work. I firmly believe everyone deserves a sense of safety, agency, and well-being, which drives my commitment to empowering clients to navigate their healing journey. My aim is that clients are not only able to reclaim their lives but also to embrace their fullest potential.
I am passionate about supporting individuals actively going through complex trauma and those on their healing journey in the aftermath. My clients often enter therapy anxious, sad, and convinced that there is something inherently wrong with them. They don't understand the effects the things they have been through in their lives have on them, and need assistance with understanding their struggles, as well as learning coping skills to increase their resilience and growth.
With my specialization in 'Trauma Across The Lifespan', I operate from the perspective of "What happened to you?" rather than "What is wrong with you?"
Through my trauma-focused lens, I draw most frequently from Attachment-Based, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Psychoanalytic/ Psychodynamic, as well as other modalities and techniques as needed.