Amy Lew

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has over 13 years of experience working with a variety of clientele. I have worked for multiple programs within YMCA's Youth and Family Services Programs including Kinship Program, an adolescent crisis house, as well as the Transitional Housing Program, Turning Point, and was a therapist at the San Diego Rescue Mission.

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I received my undergraduate degree in psychology and participated in a cross-cultural research team studying racial identity development and interracial prejudice. I completed my Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Alliant International University in 2012, and am a recipient of the Alliant MFT Educational Stipend. I have received specialized training in Motivational Interviewing, Emotionally Focused Therapy, EMDR, Brief Strategic Family Therapy, Trauma-Informed care approaches, and SPARCS-ST groups, an evidence-based psycho-educational group for survivors of trauma.

My clinical experience includes providing assessment, individual, couple and family counseling, group therapy services, as well as clinical consultation and case management.

My approach encompasses a mix of experiential and psychodynamic systems theories and techniques with an underlying foundation of interpersonal neurobiology. In other words, I find that working with and exploring past experiences greatly helps to create a meaningful understanding of current circumstances which then allows for more effective treatment for what is going on today. Interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) serves as a incredible framework for explaining the interconnectedness of our mind, bodies and relationships to others. Through the lens IPNB, I can explore with clients, a biological brain-based perspective of what is happening in the mind and body during psychological or behavioral experiences. I also incorporate techniques and practices of other theories as well, specifically EMDR, Motivational interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness.

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I do my best to make sure that the questions I ask and the interventions that I use are always healing- focused and trauma-informed. I often work in conjunction with my client's other healthcare providers to ensure that their care is in-sync and compatible.

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Last, but certainly not least, I am intentional in honoring and respecting all areas of my clients' identity. I believe that my clients' identities are made up of facets critical to the effectiveness of therapy. I work to respect, learn about and incorporate into my work with each client, their race(s), ethnicity(ies), culture(s), nationality(ies), gender identity, physical ability, age, sexual preferences, faith/spirituality, income level, and any other piece they feel is important to who they are.

My primary goal is to make sure that you know as much about the therapy journey you are about to embark on as possible. Choosing the right therapist is so crucial to the process. I want to know all of what you want to work on, your experience with therapy in the past and to get to know the most important parts of who you are as a person. I also want you to walk away with all of your questions answered. Therapy is a commitment and the first session is our chance to set your milestones and start off this journey with some hope.