Amanda is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s in Counseling, and Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Music earned from California State University Northridge. Amanda’s deep appreciation and dedication to trauma and couples work has led her to become certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Seeking Safety, and receive extensive training in the Gottman Couples Method and Alternatives for Families: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has worked in non-profit, private practice, school and trauma specialty clinic settings providing therapy services to adults, TAY (transitional-aged youth), couples, adolescents and groups for over 7 years. When working with clients, Amanda takes on an existential and humanistic approach, which centers around quality of life. She supports her clients by focusing on how issues are affecting them in the present moment; helping her clients to increase their awareness and take back control over the outcomes of their lives to build a better future. By also promoting cognitive-behavioral elements, she works with her clients to gain insight into how one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors influence each other, and to ultimately challenge the unhelpful thoughts contributing to one’s unhappiness. Amanda believes that her clients are the experts on their lives, and her role is to provide a supportive and listening ear in a safe space, and collaboratively help her clients make those lasting changes they seek.