Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Carver.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
From the beginning of my decision to pursue a career as a marriage and family therapist, I imagined working with couples in the private practice setting. At the time when I graduated with my masters from The Family Institute at Northwestern University, it was largely unheard of for clinicians to join counseling practices as pre-licensed associates, which is much more common today. And it was and still is an ethics violation to start your own practice before obtaining full licensure, which takes several more years of supervised work post-graduation. I found myself working instead in the non-profit sector. What I thought was going to be just a few years of meaningful but challenging work before opening my practice turned into a rewarding decade of experiences helping those most in need. Nearing the end of that decade, however, I knew it was time to shift gears out of the emotional toll of non-profit work. Most importantly, I knew it was time to return to my passion of working with couples, something the non-profit world does not lend itself to supporting.
Building the thriving practice I have today was a process that took a lot of planning, persistence, and passion. I put myself out there, constantly initiating networking opportunities with a wide range of colleagues and professional organizations. I embraced the hard work required to build a practice including working evenings and weekends on top of a full time job in the beginning, and even now keeping some evening and weekend hours. Most importantly, I dedicated myself to offering my clients a truly helpful experience through my advanced training and certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples.
Being a small business owner means no paid sick leave, maternity, or vacation, severely limited health insurance options, and often teaching yourself the ins and outs of marketing, accounting, and business management. Therapists are also notorious for prioritizing client care over their own bottom line. But my enthusiasm drove me through these barriers and still keeps me learning how to be both the best couple therapist I can be and the best business owner I can be. My passion is helping people love and feel loved. At the end of the day, if I’ve achieved that goal, everything else is worth it.
Amanda Carver, LMFT – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working with couples, the heart of what I do is helping people find security in love. I do that by guiding couples – both gay and straight – in slowing down the interactions that leave them in conflict or disconnection and instead helping them speak about the longings and pain that fuel their problems. Over time powerful bridges of connection are built, such that they are secure in their relationships and able to tackle whatever problems life throws their way. My standard of excellence in helping couples sets me apart from other therapists, as well as my ability to be both personable and professional in my approach. I’m proud that the most important thing that drives my business is my belief in the healing power of love and my desire to provide excellent care toward that end.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am proud of my dedication toward becoming certified as an Emotionally Focused Therapist for couples, which is a rigorous process. I am always proud to see clients’ commitment to the work. When they begin to show up for each other, it’s such a moving experience. I am honored to walk along with them so closely for certain chapters of their lives.
Pricing:
- $160 for 55-60 minutes Couple Therapy Session
- $140 for a 50-55 minutes Indvidual Therapy Session
Contact Info:
- Address: 2751 Buford Highway, Suite 707
Atlanta, GA 30324 - Website: www.TherapyWithAmanda.com
- Phone: 404-960-7484
- Email: TherapyWithAmanda@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapywithamanda/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmandaLMFT
Image Credit:
Bonnie J. Heath Photography
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