Amanda has personally experienced
anxiety and stress in her own life. In childhood, Amanda
experienced multiple near-death experiences, and the death of
loved ones. In adulthood, Amanda found she had come to
live with the anxiety these events had fostered in her life on
a daily basis.
Amanda tried alternatives to deal with stress
and anxiety, but it was not until she herself sought counseling
that she was able to recover from her own issues and find healing
and empowerment to shape her life into something she truly loves
living.
Through Amanda’s
own personal and professional journey she has developed the ability
to be truly empathetic for those dealing with anxiety, panic,
stress, and fear, and has the professional tools to facilitate
the possibility of change. It is in both her professional skills
and compassionate heart that Amanda has been able to collaborate
with clients, share in their life story, and “re-author” with
them to find a new outcome in their life story.
Amanda has a master’s degree in counseling. Through
this educated approach, Amanda is able to look at the “whole
picture” of what is going on in one’s life, and
provide support. Some areas that Amanda specializes in are
marriage and family counseling, pastoral counseling, addictions
counseling, abuse recovery counseling, anger management coaching,
self-esteem, and life skills coaching including effective communication
skills.
Amanda has experience working at a homeless shelter in which
she provided support and counseling to those who had severe anxiety
levels, addiction, physical and mental health concerns, experiences
of family violence and other abuse issues. Amanda provided support
to clients when some were at the most desperate time of their
lives. Amanda received an award for her ministry skills in this
challenging environment.
Amanda also provides family and individual counseling at a local
public organization in which she provides parents with tools
to become more effective parents. She also provides therapy
through play and individual counseling to children and youth,
as well as provides family and couples counseling.
Amanda truly loves her work as a professional counselor and
considers it a profound privilege to do what she does.
I just wanted to thank you again for all of your help over the last year. I am so grateful that people like you exist, and think that the work you do is so wonderful.
I had almost no knowledge of anxiety or anxiety disorders a few years ago, and certainly had no idea that anxiety is such a prevalent issue in today's world. I have learned so much from you and anxietycentre.com, and hope that others who experience anxiety look to anxietycentre.com for guidance.
I feel like I have come a long way in the last year, and though I know
I may experience symptoms in the future, I feel I will be able to cope with them. Talking with you has helped me get to know myself better, and understand myself and my relationships more in a way I was not able to before.
I will do my very best to incorporate the strategies I learned as I start a new adventure. I hope I am able to help others someday the way you have helped me.
I appreciate knowing that you are there should something come up in the future, and am hopeful that I will be successful on my own in anxiety recovery.
Thank you from the bottom for my heart, and I wish you the very best.
V., Eastern Canada
Thank you so much for giving me the tools I've needed to help me with recovery. I've really enjoyed our sessions. Thank you for your help and encouraging words.
I'm so excited for this new beginning in my life. I'm looking forward to keeping up with the strategies, and always keeping Christ first in my life. Thank you again for everything!
W.B., USA
In the Spring of 2009, I knew that I had exhausted my own ability to decipher why I was so prone to cycles of anxiety, fear, anger, rage and collapse. The cycles varied in intensity but always followed the same pattern. There was no way out using my own rationality.
If Amanda had told me during that first meeting that my biggest stumbling block to disabling those cycles was to understand and attend to the idolatry that governed my life, I likely would have politely ended our counselling relationship. But by helping me contain and disarm the wild emotions on which I was carried, she created a space where I could see the idolatry of approval that made life so infuriating. Seeing my pursuit of everyone else's approval as true, Biblical idolatry changed my world.
But getting there was a process I couldn't guide myself. Amanda's guidance led me step by step to see the effects of idolatry, to see the untruths that corrupted my view of God and to see that the struggle to be free is evidence of God's mercy and it is praiseworthy to be involved in the struggle.
"Change is the result of Christ loving me. Change is a result of my heart being transformed by Christ."
I think what drew me on, and still compels me to work toward more freedom, is the gentleness of Amanda's counsel. For those of us with painful histories of Christian family dysfunction, it is essential to work with someone who puts intelligence and compassion ahead of dogma. Amanda amazed me with her capacity to do that. Where I was certain that God was to blame for my suffering, I was able in the end to see only mercy. That was a long way to travel in one year after 40 years of struggle.
My journey with Amanda started where it needed to—where things were first broken—but quickly unfolded into a new understanding of my true identity in Christ. I would have rejected religious platitudes but there never were any. Instead, I was helped in seeing that my cravings for control and approval give life to crippling anxiety. Amanda's patience and compassion led me to see the mercy and compassion that God has poured out in Christ. The idols, and the anxiety they ignite, are no longer in control.
The words "I am a fruit tree" are written in large letters in my notebook. It was a phrase Amanda used only once and very quickly but it always makes me laugh and feel cheerful. It sums up the entire counselling experience despite its brevity. I was created in Christ for good works, I was made to bear good fruit. I am a fruit tree.
L.H., Canada
I want to thank you for all the help and support you have given to me. It has been a crazy ride but I believe the Lord lifted a huge burden in my life and I am looking very positively at my future...I am not afraid of the future anymore.
Client from USA
Thank so much again for your help and support. To be honest, of all the therapists I have ever worked with, you are by far above and beyond anyone else. You understand the situation I am in and provide some concrete and tangible feedback which I find extremely valuable and helpful.
Client from USA
Thanks so much. I think things really are getting better. I say that because my ability to manage my feelings and reactions seem to be much more under control. Self-talk is changing, my ability to see things from the outside etc. Again, I don't want to overstate it but I don't want to sell our progress short either. As you suggested I think the process of getting there is what is different which definitely sets the stage for change.
I am just so thankful for you. I really see God working everything together. I am really starting to feel like my own person. Even if that involves risks, changes, etc. It feels really good and I am sometimes afraid it will not last. But I think I am through the wall. My perspective seems quite different! Please know that your life and your work really do help to change peoples lives. What higher calling could you possibly have?
Just remember there are those like me, whom you have helped immeasurably and that your efforts are appreciated more than you may ever know.
I am not the kind of person who ever forgets someone who has been important in my life. For many years to come I will often think of you and give thanks for where God has placed you in life. I find this particularly amazing since we most likely will never meet face to face, yet your work has impacted me so greatly.
R.V., U.S.A
I wanted to let you know how much
your work with me has helped and how much I value it and
appreciate it. I would be no where without your expertise,
time, patience and help. My life is so much more enjoyable
thanks to you. I wake up everyday looking forward to it instead
of dreading it.
In general I am so much more happy!
God blessed me by sending you. You and the Anxiety Centre
are the true answer to anxiety recovery. Keep up the great
work, you really are helping people.
