Thank you for your interest in https://amandamaurocounseling.com/
Life comes with a lot of moving parts and sometimes stressful and challenging experiences. In these moments, we can have the tendency to put our needs and self-care to the side. What if we took that time back and put it towards ourselves and our well-being? I would be honored to be a part of your journey as you build a healthy relationship with yourself.
My name is Amanda, originally from The States (North Carolina) and I have been living here in The Netherlands since 2016; my expat journey began as a student. Not only did I fall in love with living abroad and in The Netherlands, I also met an amazing partner and decided to stay. I opened my practice in 2019 with my desire to help support others on their journey of healing and growth.
I found in my personal journey of healing that turning my focus inward to my nervous system and releasing tension within my body has been the most effective and sustainable way for me to heal. This is why I base my work with my clients in this capacity. To learn more about my personal journey and healing trauma through the body: https://amandamaurocounseling.com/863-2/
What does a somatic approach look like?
My first focus with all of my clients is to build a foundation and knowledge of our nervous systems and establish a connection with listening to the signals our bodies are sending us. By creating this awareness, we are able to heal from painful past experiences and also how to regulate and manage day-to-day struggles and stressors. The goal of somatic work and healing the nervous system is not to avoid negative feelings or emotions but rather to learn to identify them, sit with them and support yourself through them. We are very complex creatures with a wide range of emotions to experience- it’s important to embrace all of them and understand what is happening when the not so welcomed emotions come. Building a strong foundation in this way allows us to then examine and work through past and present situations.
How can AMCounseling support you on your journey?
I embrace a person-centered approach and I put a huge emphasis in building a collaborative relationship with my clients. There is not a “one-size fits all” when it comes to therapy, so it would not make sense to only use one therapeutic approach. I feel it is extremely important to continuously check in, adapt and evaluate with each other as we go through this journey together.
I believe there are huge benefits in integrating techniques from Polyvagal Theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Mindfulness/Grounding, and Narrative Therapy. Depending on what topics you want to work through, and what approached you work well with, will determine which methods we will use.
Areas of focus: sexual trauma, childhood trauma, PTDS, CPTDS, anxiety, burnout, depression, relationship/ interpersonal challenges, adjustments and challenges surrounding living abroad, building and sustaining resilience, empowerment and assertiveness. I also put focus into how we fuel our bodies- mainly our diets and movement.
All sessions are in English. Sessions are held Monday – Thursday (including evenings) and Saturday availability to work with you schedule. I work with both adults and teen (ages 13 and up).
I am a certified Yoga instructor, having completed my study in India, and for those interested we can incorporate both restorative yoga and yin yoga to further your journey of healing and supporting the body.
There is a beautiful quote from Viktor Frankl- an Austrian Neurologist and Psychiatrist who survived the Holocaust;
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
When we are able to learn to listen to our bodies, we allow ourselves the ability to maintain control and promote positive growth and change. I think it is truly beautiful what we as humans are capable of and I would be honored to go down this journey with you.