Hi! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been practicing for 7 years. I have received my masters degree from California Baptist University, and am currently pursuing my Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology. I am a passionate therapist, who finds immense fulfillment in providing therapy to help others navigate their life's challenges. My dedication to this field is driven by a deep empathy and a genuine desire to facilitate healing and personal growth. Witnessing clients transform and thrive brings me profound joy and reinforces my commitment to making a positive impact on their lives. My passion for therapy is fueled by the belief that everyone has the potential for change and healing, and I am honored to be a part of their journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling life.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I approach each client with compassion and an open heart, creating a safe and supportive space where they can explore their emotions and experiences without judgment. Whether working with individuals, couples, or families, I tailor my therapeutic techniques to meet their unique needs, empowering them to overcome obstacles and achieve their personal goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strengths as a therapist lie in my deep empathy, active listening skills, and ability to create a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic environment. I am skilled at building strong, trusting relationships with clients, which allows them to feel understood and supported. My analytical skills enable me to identify underlying issues and patterns, facilitating more effective interventions. Additionally, I am highly adaptable, tailoring my therapeutic approach to meet the unique needs of each client, whether they are children, families, or couples. My commitment to continuous learning and professional development ensures that I am always equipped with the most effective tools and techniques to support my clients. Above all, my genuine passion for helping others drives me to empower clients to achieve their personal goals and enhance their overall well-being.
About Amanda Pelaez
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my clinical practice, I have effectively utilized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support children, families, and adults in addressing a variety of psychological challenges. With children, I employ age-appropriate techniques such as storytelling and play therapy to help them understand and reframe negative thoughts, enhancing their emotional regulation and coping skills. For families, I focus on improving communication patterns and resolving conflicts by teaching family members to recognize and alter maladaptive cognitive and behavioral patterns. When working with adults, I use CBT to help them identify and challenge dysfunctional thoughts, develop healthier thought patterns, and implement practical strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. This multifaceted approach has allowed me to tailor interventions to the unique needs of each client, fostering resilience and promoting mental well-being across different age groups and family dynamics.
Attachment-based
In my clinical practice, I have utilized attachment-based therapy to address and heal relational and emotional issues stemming from early attachment experiences. With children, I focus on strengthening the parent-child bond by fostering secure attachments, using techniques that enhance sensitivity and responsiveness in caregivers. This helps children develop a secure base and improves their emotional regulation and social competence. For adults, I explore past attachment experiences and their impact on current relationships, guiding clients through the process of understanding and healing from attachment-related traumas. By creating a safe and empathetic therapeutic environment, I help clients build healthier, more secure relationships. Additionally, with families, I work to repair and enhance familial bonds, promoting open communication and emotional connection. This approach has been instrumental in fostering emotional security, resilience, and healthier interpersonal relationships across various client populations.
Couples Counseling
In my clinical practice with couples, I have implemented communication and differentiation skills from a Bowenian approach to facilitate healthier relationships. By focusing on increasing each partner's self-awareness and emotional regulation, I help couples recognize and manage their own emotional reactivity. This enables them to communicate more effectively and constructively. Through techniques such as genogram construction and exploring family-of-origin patterns, I assist couples in understanding how past relational dynamics influence their current interactions. This awareness fosters greater differentiation, allowing each partner to maintain their individuality while being emotionally connected. By guiding couples to articulate their thoughts and feelings clearly and listen empathetically, I empower them to resolve conflicts and build a more resilient and supportive relationship. This Bowenian approach promotes emotional maturity and intimacy, essential for sustaining long-term relationship satisfaction.