Hello I’m Amanda and I am very excited about this opportunity to connect with you through Better Help. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of work experience in the field of mental health and social services. I received my Bachelor of Science in Human Development with an emphasis in Applied Developmental Psychology and a Minor in Psychology from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. I later received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from California State University Long Beach and obtained my LCSW in 2005. I have worked primarily in Los Angeles County provided treatment to individuals experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma related disorders, substance use disorders, and severe, persistent mental illnesses. I am very passionate about my work and feel it is essential that clients feel accepted and supported during the therapeutic process. I have training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Problem Solving Treatment and Mindfulness Therapy and have a great deal of experiencing doing crisis intervention, risk assessment, and empowering others to develop and enhance their coping strategies. I know how difficult it can be for people to seek mental health treatment but believe this is the beginning of the healing process and the first step toward self improvement. I am truly looking forward to working with you and supporting you through this journey.