Hi, I’m Amanda!

I’m a licensed psychotherapist deeply committed to helping people heal from the distortions imprinted by relational trauma and shame-based conditioning.

My path to becoming a therapist began in college, where I conducted clinical research on PTSD and worked in an eating disorder treatment center. I went on to earn my Master’s in Social Welfare from UCLA, training in diverse settings—from community mental health and severe mental illness to cancer support focused on existential issues.

After graduation, I worked in dual diagnosis treatment, which deepened my curiosity about the role trauma and shame play in both addiction and mental illness. I later joined a trauma-focused group practice, where I received training and supervision in trauma therapy and continued to refine my clinical skills.

I believe many mental health “disorders” are not signs of brokenness, but responses to deep internal pain and chronic shame. These aren’t flaws to be numbed or “fixed”—they’re experiences to be met with care, curiosity, and compassion.

When I’m not in therapist mode, I love spending time outdoors, traveling, reading, and cuddling my two sweet kitties: Carl Jung and Carl Rogers.