Amy West

Maybe you're carrying the weight of a painful past, feeling anxious or low, or worried about your teen and running on empty. Whatever brought you here, you don't have to sort it out alone. I've spent 20 years sitting with teens, adults and families through hard seasons, and I still feel grateful to do this work. In our sessions, I'll bring warmth, a little humor when it helps and honest direct feedback. We'll go at a pace that feels safe and focus on practical tools you can use in real life. I also welcome conversations about faith and spirituality if they're part of your story. Outside of therapy, you'll find me at the beach with my nieces or at the piano, and I bring that same sense of calm and connection to our time together.

My foundation is Humanistic: you're the expert in your own life, and I offer warmth, respect and a space where you feel truly heard. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you notice how your thoughts, feelings and actions connect and practice new ways of responding. When trauma is part of your story, I use Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), starting with calming and coping skills before we gently make sense of what happened. With a Family Systems and Attachment-based lens, we'll explore how your closest relationships shape how you feel, whether we meet on your own or with family. Motivational Interviewing helps us clarify what you want and move toward it at your pace. My care is Strengths-based and Culturally Sensitive, building on what already works for you and honoring your culture, faith and values. I'll explain each step, and you'll always have a say in where we go next.

It's completely normal to feel nervous before a first session, and you don't need to prepare anything. We'll meet by video from wherever you feel comfortable. I'll start by explaining how therapy works and answering any questions you may have. Then we'll talk about what's bringing you in, what you'd like to feel differently and a bit about your life and background. You decide how much to share and it's always okay to say, "I'm not ready to talk about that yet". For teens, we'll usually include a parent or caregiver for part of the session, with time for the teen to talk with me one-on-one. Before we finish, we'll talk about next steps and whether I feel like the right fit for you.