Amanda Smaridge (she/her)

With experience counseling couples where at least one partner is a veteran, I understand the unique relationship challenges faced by military members and veterans. Issues such as deployment-related stress, trauma, and reintegration into civilian life can significantly impact both partners. I utilize evidence-based therapies, including trauma-focused CBT, to help couples overcome these challenges and build stronger, healthier relationships.

I have helped clients navigate communication breakdowns, jealousy, and boundary-setting with individuals who practice ethical non-monogamy. I work collaboratively with clients to explore the nuances of their relationship dynamics and develop strategies for effective communication and relationship management. I aim to create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients can feel empowered to explore and express their needs and desires.

Whether it's navigating communication breakdowns, coping with infidelity, or struggling with intimacy, relationship issues can significantly impact our emotional well-being. In my work, I help clients explore the underlying issues affecting their relationships and develop strategies for addressing those issues healthily and effectively.

In ACT, we cultivate psychological flexibility and resilience, helping young individuals live meaningful and values-driven lives. Through mindfulness practices, experiential exercises, and cognitive techniques, we create a safe space for them to accept difficult thoughts and emotions, clarify personal values, and take committed action toward what truly matters to them. Together, we embark on a transformative journey, unlocking their limitless potential and guiding them to a fulfilling life.

SFBT is an empowering approach I utilize in working with children and adolescents by focusing on identifying and harnessing strengths, resources, and abilities to create meaningful change. Rather than dwelling on past difficulties, we engage in collaborative conversations and interactive exercises to explore present and future possibilities. By fostering a sense of empowerment and celebrating each step forward, we unlock their full potential and guide them toward a bright future.

NVC focuses on developing empathic listening and communication skills and building emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. In couples counseling, NVC can help partners learn to communicate more effectively, express their needs and emotions in a non-judgmental way, and create a deeper sense of connection and understanding. Couples can develop greater empathy, compassion, and trust in their relationships by learning to listen and speak from the heart.

Play Therapy is an enriching approach that creates a nurturing space. Through the language of play, individuals can express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a natural, uninhibited way. Play Therapy allows children to process and make sense of their world, explore their inner selves, and develop essential coping skills. By engaging in creative and symbolic play activities, they gain a deeper understanding of themselves, build resilience, and find meaningful solutions to challenges.

Whether it's helping children navigate life transitions, heal from trauma, manage anxiety and depression, address ADHD or behavioral issues, explore their identity, or cope with neurodiversity, my approach is rooted in empathy, understanding, and age-appropriate interventions. Through a combination of play, creativity, evidence-based therapies, and a strong therapeutic alliance, I create a safe and supportive space for children to express themselves, develop resilience, and discover strengths.

I specialize in working with the unique challenges and complexities that arise during the adolescent years. We often encounter issues related to identity exploration, peer relationships, academic pressures, mental health concerns, sexuality, and navigating the transitions of becoming young adults. I provide a supportive and non-judgmental space for adolescents to develop resilience, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate the skills necessary for building a healthy and fulfilling future.

Within a nurturing and affirming space, I am here to assist in this unique journey of self-discovery and understanding. Whether they are questioning their gender, seeking guidance during transition, or facing challenges related to gender identity, I offer a compassionate and non-judgmental approach. We navigate the complexities of their gender identity, addressing their emotional well-being, societal expectations, and cultivating self-acceptance and resilience.