Dr. Amendolace is supportive, engaging, compassionate, and ever-focused on you achieving your life goals. In order for us to arrive at those goals, therapy often consists of clarifying what your personal values are, as many people go their entire lives without ever really understanding the motivations and desires that guide them. The journey toward self-discovery is often intimidating and daunting, as our minds do a wonderful job of convincing us that we do not need to change, while making the case for why everyone or everything around us absolutely needs to change. Helping each other gain clarification of where we are, where we've been, and where we want to go is essential to the therapeutic process. I promise to go with you wherever therapy takes us, while being accepting and present throughout.

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Therapy is like climbing a mountain. At times, it is scary, at other times it is exhilarating. During your climb, you will find that movement in one direction might be incredibly comforting, while movement in another direction might be downright uncomfortable. As your therapist, it's my job to let you know when it seems that you might be heading in a direction that leads you somewhere you do not want to go. Essentially, using my vantage point in our therapeutic relationship to help you clarify the "why" behind your decisions, and help guide you to living a life in accordance with your unique values. The only way I am able to do this is to climb my own mountain, side by side with you. It is when we look toward each other that we are able to guide each other to safety, and see things in each other that we cannot see in ourselves. I am only able to help you climb your mountain, because I've been climbing my own mountain. Our shared humanity allows to us learn and grow from each other, and connect with our contextual experiences of suffering and fulfillment. 

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I specialize in Trauma-Informed, Culturally Sensitive, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a newer form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses on helping people get unstuck in their lives. ACT approaches therapy, and suffering, in context. By drawing from multiple theories of personality, attachment, relationships, and practicing with cultural humility and curiosity, I am able to help my clients make desired changes in their lives and show them how to be their own support in future times of stress and worry. One of the greatest joys in my life is being able to connect with others and share the beautiful journey of life with them. That journey is bound to include joy, pain, boredom, love, and loss. In therapy, we have the opportunity to make sense of our journey in context, and clearly map out the direction that our lives will take from this moment forward. We don't HAVE to embark on this adventure, we GET to!​​​

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Your story, your identity, your experiences, your relationships, your beliefs, your emotions, your genetics (and epigentics)... everything about you has impacted who you are, and high quality, culturally sensitive, and compassionate therapy must be personalized in order to meet your needs and help you get to where you want to go. There is no step-by-step approach that works for everyone. At Therapy in Context, we believe that everyone deserves a contextually unique approach to their wellness and growth, and we fully embrace the exploration of the unique context of your life and experience as a necessary part of your journey to fulfillment and arriving at a life worth living.