Grief counselors and therapists in Lawrence, MA

Amy Penny is a passionate and dedicated therapist who believes that every person holds limitless potential and inner strength waiting to be discovered. Drawing from her own experiences of overcoming adversity and her clinical expertise, Amy creates a safe and supportive space where individuals feel empowered to connect with their inner resources and move toward growth and healing.

I am a clinical social worker practicing a variety of modalities with years of national and international experience. My main practices trauma treatment, CBT, CBT for Insomnia, mindfulness and meditation, adolescent work, post partum mental health disorders. I am also trained in play therapy, radical exposure therapy and nutritional psychology. I enjoy my work and helping people feel connected, insightful into their own life and look at new opportunities for growth and change.

Hello! I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 16 years of clinical experience working as a therapist, supervisor and leader in residential, outreach, community mental health and healthcare settings. Based in Massachusetts, I currently offer telehealth services to clients statewide. My specific areas of focus include young adults and adults, those in the LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as those experiencing difficulties or discomfort with change, anxiety, grief/loss, depression and feeling "stuck." If you're motivated to seek therapy and ready to do the work, then I'd love to work with you!

With over 30 years of experience, I specialize in supporting older adults and their families through some of life's most profound and challenging transitions — including dementia, aging, grief and loss, serious mental illness, and end-of-life concerns. I understand that these experiences can feel isolating and overwhelming, and I believe that having a compassionate, non-judgmental space to talk makes a real difference.

I have professional and personal experience with many mental health issues. I only share what has worked for clients and me. I am curious and open to learning about everyone's unique culture and way of life.

My very general bio would be:

I grew up in MA. I went to both public and catholic schools. I earned a 2nd degree black belt from Premier Martial Arts. I earned a BA in Psychology from uml. I worked at a group home for teenagers, then one for adult men with schizophrenia. I worked as a support and then a lead teacher at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities. There, I learned a lot about Behaviorism and ABA. I was then able to work as a clinician as I finished my graduate degree.

I earned my graduate degree at Fitchburg State University. I did my internship at the Community Health Center in Fitchburg. I worked in community mental health before venturing out on my own.

I enjoy working with individuals, couples and families I specialize in treating anxiety and depression. I have experience working with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. I also enjoy working with teenage and younger clients. I see many people who are going through life transitions. When one is going through grief and loss, education challenges, relationship difficulties, a new family member, pain or illness, it can be particularly difficult to cope and particularly beneficial to be in therapy to work through these issues with an unbiased ear. I also specialize in working with individuals who have struggles with chronic pain. I completed my training at Simmons Graduate School of Social Work in Boston.