About AMANDA WALLINGSFORD, LMFT-S
Therapist. Leader. Real human.
I’ve spent almost 30 years helping people untangle from pain, self-doubt, trauma, and the weight of trying to carry too much alone. I do this work because I’ve lived it too. I know what it’s like to struggle with low self-worth, to feel stuck in patterns that don’t serve you, to show up for everyone else while silently falling apart inside.
I also know what it's like to go through truly awful life events—including the unimaginable loss of my son + the trauma of losing my father to suicide—and have to learn how to pick myself back up and choose to keep going to find the light again. My own healing journey has shaped how I show up for others—I meet people where the are at with compassion, honesty, and zero judgment (ok no person is completely immune from judging, but I check myself when I do). My own journey has also taught me more about how to heal than any book could ever teach me.
My Therapeutic Approach
I want you to know that because of what I've gone through personally and the thousands of clients I have helped over the years—I am as real as real gets. I never ever want you to have to worry about what I am really thinking and if I am actually who I say I am. This means that:
- I don’t do surface-level support. I’m not here to throw affirmations at you or pretend that healing is quick and easy. I won’t expect you to “look on the bright side” when what you need is someone who can be with you in the dark.
- I won’t rush you or dismiss the depth of what you’ve been through. The pace of your healing journey is best determined by you, while I sprinkle ideas of how to keep moving forward.
- I won't ask you to do anything I won't do. I absolutely expect myself to walk the walk not just talking the talk. If I won't do it myself, I'll be honest--and probably laugh--that I haven't yet figured out how to crack the code on getting up early to exercise.
- I will ask you to keep honestly showing up in your life. I will ask you to own your choices. This means I will call you out on your shit. I promise to be gentle and do it with love. But I will call you out. Because I do you no good by not reflecting back your patterns that are getting in the way of you being the person you truly desire to be. Note: If you are a parent considering to have your child see me or to do family work, I use this same approach. I believe we all have a responsibility in how we choose to show up for our own lives and for each other as a family. So even if you are not in session, I will be exploring your child's choices and helping them figure out if those choices match who they want to be.
- And last, I will probably make you laugh. Partly because I'm funny (at least I think I am). But mostly because you are going to see that I am human just like you. And I really do like to find joy wherever I can.
My Philosophy on Humanity
I believe deeply in your capacity to change. Not just magazine article coping skills, but deep transformation—the kind that builds confidence, strengthens relationships, and helps you feel like your life truly is worth living for. I believe people are doing the best they can with what they’ve been given. I see the good in people, and I trust that we all want to live meaningful, fulfilling lives—even if we’ve never been shown how. I believe everyone is worthy of love, belonging, and the chance to heal. But I also know life can be brutal. Trauma, grief, childhood wounds, unhealthy relationships, systemic injustice—it adds up. And sometimes it feels like no matter how hard you try, you can’t outrun the weight of it. That’s where I come in. My job is to help you slow down, get honest, and build the skills and insight to change what’s no longer working—without shame or pressure.
Education + Professional Experience
I’ve worked in mental health for over two decades—supporting individuals, children, teens, and families impacted by trauma, poverty, mental illness, oppression, and instability. My early work took me into juvenile justice prevention, homeless youth shelters, crisis response, and trauma-informed care for underserved communities. I’ve served as a therapist, clinical supervisor, program director, and trainer.
I earned my undergraduate degree in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University with a focus in Health and Human Services, and a minor in Child and Adolescent Development. After gaining years of hands-on experience, I pursued my Master’s in Counseling from San Diego State University, with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy—a field that reflects my belief that healing doesn’t happen in isolation, but within the context of relationships, systems, and community.
Therapeutic Approach
I show up with a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based lens. My style is warm, straightforward, and collaborative. I draw from client-centered, family systems, attachment, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused theories. I integrate these trauma modalities:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Trained (previously certified through EMDRIA but I find value in renewing the title of certified)
- TCYM (Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method) Level Two Certified
- TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Trained
Who I Am Beyond the Therapy Room
I’m not just a therapist—I’m also someone who believes in lifelong growth, self-compassion, and the power of community. I’ve written a book, Embody Your Worth, for those who want to deepen their relationship with themselves and the world around them.
I’m passionate about mentoring the next generation of healers, and I do this through providing clinical supervision, leading workshops, and mentoring through the Minority Fellowship Program with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
I also want you to know: I care deeply about justice, equity, and inclusion. I’m a white, cisgender woman of both Caucasian and Hispanic heritage, fluent in Spanish, and I am committed to continuously examining my privilege and showing up responsibly in the work I do. If I fall short, I invite feedback with openness and humility. If you’re ready to feel more like yourself again—or maybe meet a stronger, wiser version of you for the first time—I’d be honored to walk with you through the work.