Amanda Stransky

Hello! My name is Amanda Stransky and I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. Our mental health declines when we feel we no longer have a choice in our lives, and we can work together to change that. I have experience working with military and law enforcement as well as young adults working through career and other life transitions while redefining who they are and who they want to become.

My approach

When we become aware of our own emotional and physical responses to stressors and threats, we gain a moment of time where we can choose our next actions. Through somatic (body) and experiential work, we can establish a new pattern of response to writing over the old pattern of reactivity. This opens up new possibilities for us and allows for the creation of a life worth living.

My focus

I work with military folks, both active duty and retired, that are looking to manage workplace stress, career transitions, and relationship issues. I also work with college-age and mid-life adults that are facing difficult decisions related to choosing a career path, changing jobs, and navigating life after divorce or other major life-altering events. Frequently, my clients face anxiety and fear leading to inaction and negative self-fulfilling prophecies.

My communication style

I strive to create an environment of deep trust and honest communication. I am more direct and to the point than many therapists, and I will tell you how I see things. This works both ways: you get to tell me that I'm wrong or that you disagree. This means that we can openly discuss your fears and concerns without worry of judgment. When we are able to lay everything out on the table, only then can the good work begin.

My journey to mental healthcare

My journey to becoming a therapist was born out of a need for a new career and a new life after navigating divorce. Through my work, I have come to realize that society does not prepare us well for facing these life events. This is most apparent during transitions such as changing work environments, retirement, choosing a college major, graduation, and the ending of significant relationships. I want to help others find their choice, so they can create a life that is true to their values.

My goals for you

Goal setting with me looks like starting big and working down to small and achievable steps. We will write out everything you dream of for yourself (realistic or not) and identify those things that would have the most positive impact on your life. From there, we break it down into time-oriented steps, setting 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month goals. Within these goals, we keep breaking them apart until we have daily or weekly achievable steps that help you feel like you are accomplishing something, leading to increased motivation, self-esteem, and reduced stress.

My first session with you

Our first session together will be a bit different than the following ones. In this meeting, we will start by reviewing all the disclosures and expectations that you can have during our time together. This is vital to your having a clear understanding of what our work is and what it isn't and creates the groundwork for a trusting relationship. Next, you'll have the space to tell me what brings you to therapy. Finally, I will ask you a series of questions meant to help me gain a thorough picture of you and your concerns. We will end with a grounding exercise and schedule our next appointment. Subsequent sessions will be more focused on developing our goals and diving into learning new skills.