My name is Amanda Dooley. I am a wife and a mother to two wonderful kiddos. I am the human that belongs to a rambunctious rescue dog and two cats who love to crash my virtual sessions. I am an avid reader, a proud nerd, a former goth kid who still loves the creepy and macabre.
My Professional Background
I have a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in the state of Tennessee. I have worked in a variety of mental health settings, including school-based services, crisis response, and traditional outpatient therapy settings. I currently teach master’s level counseling students as an adjunct instructor at MTSU. I am also currently enrolled in a PhD program in Counselor Education and Supervision with an expected completion date of December 2022.
My Approach to Counseling
Since I began my career, I have worked with individuals from many different backgrounds and walks of life. I believe in creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can feel heard and respected. My goal is to offer empathy and support as we work together to find solutions. I view therapy as a collaborative relationship. You are the expert on your own life.
I utilize techniques from several types of therapy in order to tailor my approach to the individual client. Overall, I am firmly rooted in cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based approaches to therapy. I frequently incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training into individual therapy sessions. I do NOT offer fully adherent DBT, a more intensive type of therapy that involves weekly individual therapy sessions, weekly skills training groups, and phone coaching between sessions. If you are interested in this type of therapy, I am happy to offer referrals to local providers who offer this service. You can learn more about DBT here:
https://behavioraltech.org/resources/faqs/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/
I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a type of therapy that utilizes eye movement or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help individuals heal from the negative impact of past traumatic or distressing life experiences. You can learn more about EMDR here: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/