Amanda Malcolm

I embrace the philosophy of "meeting people where they are at" when it comes to treatment. Whether it is serious mental illness or "first world problems," the first step is understanding the symptom experiences and environmental/relational factors, building a safe therapeutic environment, and determining what progress in treatment looks like for you. My aim is to empower you, be curious and open-minded about your lived experiences, explore meaningful ways to make changes, utilize non-judgmental approaches to challenge thoughts/narratives that have contributed to the reason(s) for treatment, and/or facilitate better communication with supports. I specialize in working with people who who struggle with communicating their unique symptoms/experiences, making therapy difficult to try or intimidating or as a result have been through the "ringer" of mental health treatment with a variety of potential diagnoses.

My therapy style is relational (more conversational, dynamic) and eclectic (using multiple modalities best suited to the client). I emphasize education as empowerment, especially when it comes to understanding trauma and dissociation. For those who seek a more solution-oriented approach, I adapt to focus on developing/strengthening coping skills and better self-esteem by figuring out what has worked (or has not) for you in the past and creating sustainable habits and supports based on your current environment.

Client should expect a friendly, conversational demeanor that is genuinely curious to learn what brought you to treatment. Usually I review what brought you to therapy, what has your previous experience with mental health treatment looked like, and ensure I can adequately meet your treatment needs. I use a "person-centered" approach, meaning the client comes first when defining what would progress look like; I am trained in helping someone identify what that might be even if they have no idea coming into the session.