Amanda Menke

You don't have to have it figured out to start. Many of my clients come in carrying things they haven't been able to put into words yet, years of anxiety, complicated family dynamics, trauma they've set aside to keep functioning, or a mood disorder that's made everything harder than it should be. I'm Amanda Menke, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving adults, teens, couples, and families via Telehealth across Maryland and Washington D.C. I accept Aetna, Cigna, Carelon Behavioral Health, Ascension SmartHealth, Horizon BCBS, and Independence Blue Cross, because access to quality care shouldn't depend on your budget. I'm LGBTQIA+ affirming and culturally attuned, and I work with clients age 6 and up.

My approach is built around you, not a script. I draw primarily from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which gives clients concrete, practical tools for managing overwhelming emotions and difficult relationships. I layer in CBT, trauma-focused approaches (CPT, TF-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and attachment-based work depending on what actually fits. Some clients want skills and homework. Others need space to process. Most need both, at different times. I follow your lead while keeping your goals front and center. Therapy with me is collaborative, direct, and grounded in what works, not what sounds good.

The first session is yours to use however feels right. I'll ask about what's been happening, what you've tried before, and what you actually want to feel or do differently, not just clinically, but in real life. There's no pressure to share everything at once. By the end of our first session, you'll have a clear sense of whether we're a good fit and what working together could look like. Most clients leave with at least one concrete tool or reframe they can use right away. Virtual sessions mean no commute, no waiting room, and full flexibility to meet from wherever you feel most comfortable.