Amy Freede

Hello and welcome! My name is Amy Freede, and I am a licensed independent social worker. With a person-centered, eclectic approach, I encourage self-compassion as we work together to help you identify patterns that are no longer working for you, challenge your thinking, and establish new behaviors and skills.

My approach

In my practice, I draw from a range of therapy approaches depending on your specific circumstances and symptoms. These include cognitive behavioral, exposure and response prevention, acceptance and commitment, dialectical behavior therapy, and interpersonal therapy, as well as supportive counseling.

My focus

I typically work with individuals with issues ranging from OCD to PTSD to postpartum depression and anxiety. I have found I enjoy working with individuals going through significant life changes and helping them discover themselves and their ‘new normal.’ I especially enjoy working with new parents navigating the identity shift after having a baby.

My communication style

The atmosphere of a session with me is conversational and warm. I utilize a loose structure within the session in order to help us stay on track and make the most of your session.

My journey to mental healthcare

My relationship with being a therapist has undergone many changes in the 11 years since starting my career. I have been drawn to the study of psychology since I was a teenager and wanted to help those around me. I was the friend who was "a good listener." Looking back, I can also see how much I wanted to understand myself and how this contributed to years of soul-searching as I learned all about the mind and started working with clients. After years of practice and further development of my skills, I find that I want people to know how powerful their thoughts are in creating the life they want. I am driven because I want to help you not only learn skills to manage your anxiety and depression, but I want to help you develop self-compassion and grace for yourself as you experience all of the changes you are going through. I find it such a privilege to work with people as they are going through difficult times and honor the effort it takes to work toward changing your life.

My goals for you

It's important for us to know how you want your life to change within the first couple of sessions. With a set goal, we can measure your progress and know if we are on the right track or if we need to switch up our approach.

My first session with you

During our first session, we will complete an initial assessment. I will ask you questions about your history and background and what brings you to counseling. We will talk about the specific symptoms you are experiencing and how these symptoms are impacting your life. We will talk about your goals and work together to create a plan for your treatment.