Rated 4.9 stars out of 5, 21 ratings

Amanda Tolar

LMSW-C, 7 years of experience

Authentic
Empowering
Warm
Virtual
Next available on

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.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

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.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our 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.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

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.

Rated 4.9 stars out of 5, 21 ratings

3 ratings with written reviews

July 9, 2025

I love that I finally have someone i can be open with and not feel judged. I love that she has ways to work on getting better and being better informed. She is very relatable and I love that for me. She has touched on bases that actually affect me personally and things we can work on to help me. Having a comfortable space to open up in is very important and Amanda gives me that space. I highly recommend her as a trauma specialist. Her knowledge is ground breaking for someone like me.

Verified client, age 45-54

Review shared after session 5 with Amanda

June 6, 2025

This was only my first appointment. She mad3 me very comfortable and mad3 it easy to share with her. Im so grateful for finally finding someone who actually listens

Verified client, age 45-54

Review shared after session 1 with Amanda

April 2, 2025

Amanda seems to understand how my mind works

Verified client, age 45-54

Review shared after session 1 with Amanda

About Amanda Tolar

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Trauma-Focused CBT

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?"

Eclectic

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.