Howdy, my name is Amy and my specialty is working with high-achieving professionals who are impacted by childhood abuse or neglect, relational attachment wounds & instability, as well as emotional & physical burnout that causes:
misalignment with personal and professional goals & roles
My approach is simple…
I use your strengths to harness your inner wealth of potential by utilizing evidence based strategies to help you feel seen, heard, considered & unstuck within your relationship to SELF and others quickly and effectively.
I absolutely love what I do and consider my work a true privilege.
Why Work with Amy?
A little bit about my Professional & Educational Background
My mental health professional field experience began in 2004 while working with children and adults who were hospitalized for serious physical and mental health disorders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center & Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh. Longer if you consider working as a nanny, hospitality, and golfing industries, hehe.
While pursuing my BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and learning about the family systems and the various government services available to help individuals and families succeed with their mental health, trauma, and substance use concerns. I was fortunate to study abroad (Social Psychology) while at Pitt - Surfers Paradise, Australia before moving across country to San Diego, CA to further my experiences helping individuals and families in the substance use & residential treatment fields.
Once I moved to Sunny San Diego, CA I worked as a substance use counselor while studying to obtain my CAADAC certification. While I was working and studying, I became interested in obtaining my MSW degree with an emphasis in Child Welfare System from California State University, San Bernardino and applied for the Title- IV scholarship. During the application process, I worked as an inpatient residential mental health counselor with severely emotionally disturbed and developmentally delayed youth, as well as methadone clinic for those who experienced significant chemical dependencies - which I found was deeply impactful.
I worked and studied in unison which allowed for me to integrate the material in a humanistic way. My focus and passion to help those impacted by childhood trauma developed after working within the Regional Center Residential and Wraparound, Child Welfare System Programs- Adoptions, Extended Foster Care, Special Populations Investigations, Non-Profit agencies, Hospitals, outpatient, Corrections, and private practice supporting youth, adults, parents, families, and small systems. SO many of our society’s deepest darkest secrets revolve around childhood early trauma, substance use and emotional dysregulation, therefore I love to help support parents who are in the trials and tribulations of caregiving as I feel it’s the most helpful for the entire family, community, and corporate systems.
After working alongside people for the last 20 + years, I truly fundamentally find inherent self-worth and lovability in every human. I absolutely LOVE accompanying others uncovering their higher consciousness through awareness of this in themselves and their loved ones. I am a flawed, deeply imperfect and have been through childhood trauma, abuse, substance dependence, and relationship instability secondary to those imprints from the beginning, myself.
My last 20+ years in the field included working in residential, government, hospital, corrections, and outpatient mental health therapeutic services, all in California & Pennsylvania. You can read more about it here or here.
I am Gottman Method Couples trained and I love working with couples who have been exposed to trauma, infidelity, infertility, Law Enforcement/Military Branches, and parenting components. I have also been trained in CBT-trauma informed techniques, CBT-mindfulness, & DBT approaches, Internal Family Systems (IFS) , forensic motivational interviewing, and Eye Movement Desentization Replacement (EMDR).
Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy is another approach that I am deeply interested in and passionate about as I find it to be helpful for those impacted by trauma. I have received 36 credits of psychedelic assisted therapies for couples and individuals impacted by trauma. I provide pre and post integrative psychotherapy services for individuals and couples successfully and safely.
I consider myself a lifelong learner and plan on continuing my education and professional development till the day I am no longer able too. I deeply value personal and professional integrity and showing up for what is right- which includes myself, my family, my clients, my community, and the human being population.
California LCSW 66246
Pennsylvania CW022947
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- I have been grateful to call San Diego, CA my home for almost 20 years now! I can never imagine leaving the sunshine, the water, beach, mountains, and human diversity - the entire vibe which makes San Diego a perfect fit for my personality.
San Diego, has always felt like where I actually belong even as a transplant from the east coast. There is nothing better than flying home to San Diego over Balboa Park and seeing our palm trees as we land, feeling the fresh warm air, am I right? I breathe a big sigh of relief when I come home to San Diego…every single time. I love having access to such diverse beautiful environment alongside people, cultures, and landscapes. It truly fulfills me & my family to connect in Nature, which we enjoy being close to so many different terrains.
Since I was a young girl, I have been a huge lover of Community, Nature, Music, & Sunshine so following a friend out to California just made sense for me as I navigated pursuing my Masters in Social Work & working in the Alcohol and Drug treatment service world.
I’ve had my share of highs and lows throughout life, just like everyone else, which is what propelled me to work through my own inner child shame, blame, critic, and guilt - through a variety of therapeutic processes. It’s been humbling to learn, that I am perfectly imperfect and do not have to heal myself forever, yet that journey is fulfilling for me and I imagine myself doing it till the day I die. Growing, evolving, compassionately and graciously.
Mental health and substance use have been a part of my personal journey and why I have become such an empathetic, authentic, compassionate therapist, some have shared with me. It’s not my purpose to judge or control the story line for others, I hold space and gentleness as that is also what I have found that have helped me the most.
I lean into being a lifelong learner who is open to changing and evolving as a human, sister, mother, friend, therapist, and professional.
Pursuing several different hobbies at a time, helps me to stay focused on my self-care so I enjoy live music, gardening, biking, hiking, yoga, cooking, camping, skating, SUP, kayak, and walking as well as a healthy dose of travel & DIY.
Today, I have the best blended family with my husband, and our two girls from our past relationships. I love sharing these joys and lows of life with them and strive to show up the best I can for them.
Adventure and outdoor life truly does fulfill my life purpose - I enjoy doing “all that life has to offer” with my family, chosen family, pup Orion - ideally through an active, adventure focused lifestyle rooted in gratitude and volunteer work. Keeping up with my minions keep me grounded, focused, and driven to my life purpose. I truly embody what I teach - we must encounter the darkness with light & love.
I leaned into becoming a Licensed Clinician in Pennsylvania as I found many clients would seek me out based on my background of east to west coast transplant and enjoy connecting with my roots by serving those residing in Pennsylvania.
Holding sacred space for others requires me to always be learning, releasing, and growing with you all, which deeply fulfills me personally, professionally, and spiritually 🤍
A little about me, personally
Amy introducing herself and explaining her specialities.
I’d love to help you feel less stuck.
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