Amanda Rager

Hello! I’m Amanda Rager, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor licensed in North Carolina and Utah. I earned my B.S. in Psychology and M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. At my core, I believe in the power of authentic connection and the resilience that emerges when people feel truly seen and understood. My practice is centered around walking alongside individuals, couples, children, and families through life’s steep climbs—offering a grounded, collaborative space where you are always honored as the expert of your own life.

I bring a diverse clinical background spanning private practice and school settings. My clinical specialties include:

• Couples & Relational Repair: Utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method techniques to break reactive conflict cycles, repair attachment ruptures, and rebuild emotional intimacy.
• Individual Identity & Life Transitions: Supporting adults through faith transitions, complex identity shifts, anxiety, and breaking generational patterns.
• Neurodiversity & Child/Adolescent Therapy: Providing play therapy, expressive arts, and neurodiversity-affirming care (ADHD/Autism), alongside active IEP and 504 school advocacy for families.

My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and deeply human. I view my role as a knowledgeable guide: I am here to help you navigate heavy terrain and offer steady presence, practical tools, and honest feedback, but the journey always remains uniquely yours.

In my work with individuals, we look below the surface to reshape your narrative, build coping strategies, and foster self-compassion. With couples, I integrate EFT and Gottman methods to dismantle defensiveness and create lasting relational safety. When working with children, I speak the language of play and expressive arts, working closely with parents to support the entire family unit. Whether we meet in person or via telehealth, I bring warmth, grounded honesty, and hope into the "in-between" spaces of life.

Your first session is all about building safety, setting a comfortable pace, and getting to know you beyond a list of symptoms. I focus on creating a low-pressure, welcoming environment where you can freely share what brings you to therapy, what hasn't worked in the past, and what you hope to achieve moving forward.

Together, we will explore your goals, discuss your history, and begin mapping out a collaborative plan tailored to your needs. You will leave our initial session with a clearer sense of direction, a grounded understanding of how we will work together, and the reassurance that you don't have to carry the weight or figure out the path alone.