Amanda M.

hierophany
Credit: Amanda M.Artist Bio

I am a relational therapist committed to building strong, compassionate connections with my clients through a holistic approach that blends an existential-humanistic lens, interpersonal neurobiology (brain science-based attachment), and narrative (the stories we tell ourselves and how they shape our understanding of the world). My approach centers on trauma-informed care, emphasizing the importance of the mind-body connection. I aim to create a space where clients can safely explore their deeper selves through mindfulness and creative expression through a variety of mediums including digital photography, fiber arts, writing, clay, painting & drawing. My work is non-traditional, focusing on somatic awareness and helping clients understand how their nervous system affects their mental health. My client sessions are a journey that begins with tuning into the body, moves through creative exploration, and ends with mindful reflection on the changes experienced during the process.

I work from a neuroqueer, antiracist framework, blending trauma-informed care with art and somatic therapy. My therapeutic approach is rooted in creative expression and mindfulness which helps guide clients back into connection with their sense of self. I believe in balancing evidence-based tools with the magic and mystery of ancient techniques, embracing both modern psychology and timeless healing practices. My therapeutic focus includes somatics, trauma, grief & loss of all kinds, identity shifts/transitions, LGBTQIA+ experiences and toxic work environments. Together, we explore creativity and how it can deepen the therapeutic relationship, opening new pathways for healing.

I provide individual and group therapy, available both virtually and in person. My sessions are tailored to the unique needs of each client, blending traditional talk therapy with creative and mindfulness based interventions. I specialize in trauma-informed, somatic therapy, which allows clients to reconnect with their body and mind in a safe, non-judgmental space. For those needing longer, more intensive sessions, I offer extended formats to accommodate deeper exploration. I currently work with individuals, couples, and groups, using a combination of mindfulness, art, and movement to create a healing space for all.

I specialize in helping clients connect to their authentic selves, guiding them through life’s transitions, including grief, career changes, and personal identity exploration. I often work with individuals who have been dissatisfied with traditional therapy approaches, particularly those dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression in

environments like toxic workplaces. I am skilled at helping clients navigate identity issues, including queer identity, differentiation from family expectations, and awakening to systemic oppression. My work is particularly impactful for those who seek more than just talking about problems and are ready for creative, embodied ways of healing.

Some of my personal favorite somatic expressions include roller skating, aerial silks, building strength at a local femme owned kettle bell gym and of course practicing and teaching yoga. I love nerding out on textiles and fiber arts and I find grounding and connection to the world around me through nature and time in the woods. Some new favorite hobbies are chainsawing and foraging for mushrooms.

Artist Statement

hierophany; the process of making sacred

The theme of my internship experience has been Letting Go.

Letting go of the need to know, to be right, to have answers, in an attempt to be present with who I am right now, so that I can be present with my clients. This letting go is an intentional releasing that opens to a more expansive intuitive way of knowing, which also leaves room for not knowing.

The piece you see here is one representation of my process and experience this term. Watercolor was intuitively applied to an unstretched canvas. Warp threads were meticulously pulled one by one, creating gaps in the fabric. Mimicking how grueling and time consuming the process of letting go has been. Scrap yarn from a shawl I made to process the grief of my dad passing were woven into these gaps. These yarns drip off the canvas and braid together, and in some sections weave their own new fabric.

Scan below to listen!

I often struggle with words, and in these moments, music and movement help to express what feels hard to articulate. This playlist was created as a soundtrack to my process these past few months, using the lyrics as oracle and mantra.