What does a first session with you look like?

A first session is typically the initial assessment. It is primarily focused on gathering as much information about the client as possible. After the first session the real therapy part begins.

If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?

That therapy is hard work! It takes time and a lot of practice. Therapy is basically trying to determine what is affecting the client and how we can change or adjust their responses to get a better outcome. I takes a lot of time to change a habit. But if you work at it, work with me we will get through the hard work and a better you!

Year of training on many levels. CPR, CPI, First Aid, PTSD, Eating disorders, Substance abuse.

Parents

Young Adults (18-24)

Adults (25-65)

Seniors (65+)

Children (5-12)

Adolescents (13-17)

Masters in Clinical Psychology

Bachelors in Psychology

Designed to help people choose, change, or leave a career at any stage of life. Careers are often wrapped up in people’s perceived identity, therefore, any change can cause anxiety and/or depression.

Careers

Grief is a reaction to an emotionally significant loss and often comes with symptoms of depression or anxiety. These symptoms can remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, making it difficult to move forward with a healthy lifestyle.

Loss/Grief

Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Feeling low self-esteem can influence overall well-being and be linked to anxiety and/or depression.

Self-Esteem

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) causes a hard time focusing attention and controlling restless or impulsive behavior. People with ADHD might have emotional outbursts, be forgetful, and/or find it difficult to stay organized.

ADHD

Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.

Abuse/Survivors of abuse

It's normal to experience anger at times, but for some, it becomes so frequent, intense, or difficult to control that it negatively affects their life. Anger management is a structured therapeutic approach toward reducing one’s anger to a point where more appropriate coping and/or conflict management skills are used. Beliefs and thoughts leading toward anger outbursts are explored while healthy coping and interpersonal skills are put into practice.

Anger management

Characterized by alternating symptoms of depression and mania. During more extreme episodes, depression may lead to the point of suicidal ideation and attempts while extreme bouts of mania are marked by impulsive behavior, lack of sleep, elevated esteem, and even psychosis.

Bipolar disorder

Caring for a friend or family member (paid or unpaid) includes emotional support, housework, help with finances, medication management, and shopping. Can be stressful, making caregivers more vulnerable to things like anxiety, isolation, and fatigue.

Caregiver stress & support

Involves a person sacrificing their needs to meet the needs of others. Their thoughts and actions center on a significant other, spouse, friend, or relative. Becomes an issue when relationships are unbalanced and unhealthy.

Codependency

Issues arising from being in a new environment or away from home for the first time. College-aged kids have the highest rates of mental illness, suffering things like stress, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and substance abuse.

College & graduate student issues

Familial relationships can be the source of stress and emotional pain, even in the healthiest of situations. Painful interactions can range from irritation to resentment and lead to feelings of guilt, disappointment, and anger.

Family issues

Process of defining one’s own beliefs and sense of self. Evolves over time and can become a source of stress and pain, especially if the concept of self goes against social, cultural, or familial norms.

Identity development

Panic attacks are acute conditions in which one experiences an intense bout of anxiety out of seemingly nowhere. This oftentimes stems from a perceived rather than actual threat. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder involves regular frequency of panic attacks (two or more) with a fear of experiencing more in the future.

Panic attacks & panic disorder

PTSD is a condition that is precipitated by a perceived terrifying event. This event need not occur directly to the person but may happen vicariously—having seen something terrible happen to another person. The condition may last months or years while symptoms include ruminating thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety when triggered, and potential substance abuse in attempt to cope.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors that cause problems in school, at home, and in social situations. Can include hyperactivity, impulsivity, defiant behavior, chronic patterns of aggression, defiance, disruption, and/or hostility.

Behavioral Issues

Alcohol addiction & abuse

Couples

Families

English

Psychotherapy focused on the interaction between thought and behavior. Examines negative thought patterns with the goal of changing responses to negative stimuli. Often used to treat depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Skill-based therapy focused on communication, management, and validation of painful emotions. Four key areas include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Often used to treat depression, bulimia, binge-eating, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Non-authoritative approach allowing the person or client to take the lead in the process of self-discovery and healing. Therapist facilitates the conversation with complete acceptance and a lack of interference.

Person-Centered Therapy

Focuses on traits, thoughts, behaviors, and experiences that can improve the quality of someone's daily life. Goal is to center on positive experiences like optimism, creativity, and resilience, giving balance to the therapeutic process.

Positive Psychology

In-depth talk-therapy based on understanding the impact of the unconscious mind on a person’s thoughts and behaviors. Goal is to bring repressed memories or emotions to the surface and examine them.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

Addresses emotional and mental health of kids, adolescents, and adults who struggle to overcome destructive effects brought on by trauma, which is especially devastating to youth with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from abuse or grief.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Family Session

Individual Session

Couples Session

Group Session

Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.

Depression

Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.

Anxiety

Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.

Addiction

Mood disorder is a broad term used to include the different types of depressive and bipolar disorders, all of which affect mood. With a mood disorder, your moods may range from extremely low to extremely high or irritable.

Mood disorders

Coping skills are tools and techniques one can learn, practice, and use to handle difficult emotions, decrease stress, and establish or maintain a sense of internal order.

Amanda Straka, MS, LPCLPC

Availability

What does a first session with you look like?

If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?

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