Amber Dryden

I've been a licensed clinical social worker since 2004, and most of that time has been spent in or adjacent to educational settings — working with adolescents, school systems, and the families navigating both. That context shapes how I think about what therapy is for: building skills and independence, not ongoing reliance on a professional.

I work with adolescents and adults on anxiety, depression, and women's mental health. My approach is practical and collaborative — we identify what's most important to you and build a concrete plan for getting there.

I'm an LMSW trained at Grand Valley State University, serving Berrien County and clients across Michigan via telehealth.

My approach is grounded in two frameworks that complement each other well.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps us identify and shift the thought patterns driving anxiety and depression — building awareness of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect, and developing practical tools to interrupt unhelpful cycles.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) keeps us oriented toward where you want to go, not just what you're trying to move away from. We spend time identifying your existing strengths and what's already working, then build from there.

Sessions are collaborative and practical. The goal is for you to leave therapy feeling capable of handling what comes next — you don't have to do this alone!

Building trust takes time, and the first session is where we start. I'll spend most of it listening — learning what's important to you, what's been hard, and what you're hoping changes.

My goal is to help you gain the tools and insight to navigate life's challenges independently — so you leave therapy feeling capable, confident, and prepared for whatever comes your way. We start working toward that from session one.