Amanda sees clients facing a variety of issues from heightened anxiety, depression, and ADHD to communication and social/relationship issues. Whenever possible, Amanda incorporates family members into the treatment process. While Amanda has a unique specialty with young children and families, she also enjoys working with individual adults and couples.
Prior to HTG, Amanda worked as a senior clinician at a community mental health center as well as at residential treatment facilities for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. Amanda has supervised other therapists working on their master’s degrees and license.
Amanda earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University in Chicago in 1999, with a concentration in children and families. Amanda’s research centers on behavioral and emotional issues that are specific to young children. Amanda is a member of the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association and the American Counseling Association.
Outside of the office, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband and three energetic sons.
I use developmental, systems and cognitive-behavioral perspectives. This combination helps me truly identify each clients’ needs. Once our goals are set-my job is to accomplish them in the shortest, most action oriented way, in a supportive environment.
I’ve seen patients with all ranges of challenges-from anxiety and/or trauma, issues with sensory processing, emotional regulation, social issues and everything in between.
Yes, I have worked extensively with children and adolescents. I have always had a natural affinity for kids-admiring their energy and innocence. I was able to specialize my clinical training in child and adolescent development and family issues, which is fairly unique.
In most cases, we’d start out by identifying the troublesome behavioral and/or emotional issues. We would then design a tailored, age appropriate treatment plan and start working. A huge factor in our success is working as a team. I provide parents and family members with hands-on problem resolution and coaching. They need to put it into practice in the day-to-day.
So many things. But I think at the heart is always the inspiration I draw from my clients. Therapy isn’t easy breezy. But with it can come great things. I watch my clients grow, realizing their strength and resilience. It makes everything so worthwhile.
Amanda works extensively with young children (ages nine and younger) and their parents. Such concentrated focus has allowed her to develop the specific therapeutic methods that this age group requires. Amanda coaches, provides hands-on problem resolution, and helps children develop emotional and relational skills.
Amanda has treated a wide variety of childhood problems. The following are the most common:
Children who have experienced all forms of trauma, anxiety
Difficulty with sensory processing, emotional regulation, communication
Negative emotions or behaviors that parents cannot resolve
To help her young clients and their parents from as many angles as possible, Amanda collaborates with school teachers, counselors, and social workers. Together, therapy, family life, and the school environment can provide a positive, structured environment where the child is able to develop.
Intimate relationships require maintenance and attention. This is not easy, as each partner must negotiate his or her needs with those of their partner and with the relationship they share with the other. When couples experience conflict, this give-and-take has fallen out of balance.
Amanda helps the individuals in an intimate relationship understand this optimal balance. In therapy, partners work to rise above their immediate conflicts so that they may find the common ground that brought them together. Committed partners develop understanding and perspective, the building blocks of healthy, happy relationships.
