Amanda Stephan

With over a decade of experience in behavioral health, recovery support, education, and community advocacy, I bring an integrative and trauma-informed approach to therapy that honors the complexity of each person’s story. My clinical work focuses on helping individuals navigate complex trauma, substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health concerns, attachment wounds, emotional dysregulation, and major life transitions with compassion, collaboration, and practical tools for healing.

My experience also includes developing and facilitating recovery and wellness programs throughout the Richmond community, including arts-based trauma recovery programming and substance use education initiatives. As an educator and facilitator, I value helping clients better understand themselves through psychoeducation, skill-building, creativity, and self-compassion.

My therapeutic style is relational, collaborative, and adaptable to the individual needs of each client. I draw from evidence-based modalities including EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based interventions, motivational interviewing, somatic and nervous system-informed approaches, and trauma-focused care. I incorporate integrative mental health perspectives that recognize the connection between mind, body, nervous system functioning, and overall wellness. Through advanced training in integrative mental health, Food as Medicine and nutrition and mental health. I help clients explore how factors such as sleep, nutrition, stress, nervous system regulation, and lifestyle patterns can influence emotional well-being.

I believe healing is most sustainable when we address both psychological and physiological contributors to distress. Whether clients are seeking support for trauma recovery, substance use, anxiety, depression, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or personal growth, I strive to create a space where they feel seen, supported, and capable of meaningful change.

The first therapy session is an opportunity for us to begin building a comfortable, collaborative relationship and explore what brings you to therapy at this point in your life. We will discuss your current concerns, personal history, strengths, goals, and any past experiences with therapy or treatment that feel important to share. My approach is trauma-informed, nonjudgmental, and paced in a way that prioritizes emotional safety rather than pushing you to disclose more than you feel ready for.

Clients can expect a conversational and supportive environment where curiosity, honesty, and self-compassion are encouraged. I may ask questions about emotional health, relationships, stress, trauma history, substance use, lifestyle patterns, sleep, and overall wellness in order to better understand the full picture of your experiences. Together, we will begin identifying goals for therapy and discuss approaches that may best support your healing, growth, and long-term well-being.