Amy Benedict

"Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." - anonymous

We all fall down from time to time. It takes courage to seek help and support during those times when we have difficulty getting back up. I commend you for taking the first step.

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in California. I have a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and have been working in this field for 19 years. I initially made this career choice because I wanted to learn how to help myself and my family. I discovered I had a real passion and talent for connecting with and understanding others.

I have experience working with depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, anger management, communication difficulties and parenting. I also have experience working with trauma and abuse.

My counseling style is warm and empathetic. I believe in treating everyone with respect and being non-judgmental. I utilize a combination of cognitive behavioral, humanistic and psychodynamic modalities, with a focus on unconditional positive regard. I will work with you to identify your strengths and tailor treatment to meet your specific needs

My approach blends warmth with practical tools. I draw on cognitive behavioral therapy to help you notice the thought patterns driving anxiety, stress, or low mood, and solution focused techniques to build concrete next steps. If conflict with a partner brought you here, I use the Gottman Method to strengthen communication and rebuild trust. And when you are not yet sure what you want to change, motivational interviewing helps us find your own reasons to move forward, at your pace. Whatever you are carrying, from trauma and grief to anger or family tension, we go at a pace that feels safe, with respect and zero judgment.

In our first session, we will talk through what is bringing you in right now, whether it is anxiety, stress, a strained relationship, grief, or something harder to name, and what is already working for you. I will ask questions to understand your history and your strengths, not to diagnose you. From there we build a plan together: concrete tools for the week ahead, and a space each session where you can be fully honest. Many clients tell me that by our third or fourth session, they feel more in control and less alone with what they are carrying.