About Amanda

I grew up in a tiny Ohio town—one of those places where everybody knows your business and waves at you on Main Street. Population: not even 4,000. The good side? People help each other out, and everyone knows your dog’s name. The hard part? Sometimes those familiar faces don’t make room for new ideas or anyone who’s even a little bit different. If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out, trust me, I’ve been there. I get how tough it can be to stand out when you just want to be yourself. And if you need someone cheering you on as you choose your own path, I’m here for that. You don’t have to do it alone.

As a kid, I noticed early on that lots of people suffer in silence. Sometimes they use things like alcohol or anger to cope, and sometimes, pain gets passed along instead of healed. I also saw how trauma and racism leave marks that start early and run deep. All of that made me more open-minded and pushed me to meet people where they are—no assumptions, just curiosity and care.

After grad school, I jumped straight into supporting folks in Ohio who were dealing with the roughest stuff—poverty, substance abuse, homelessness, severe mental illness, and abuse. I worked in community mental health and emergency rooms, meeting people at their lowest. I saw up close how hard life can hit, and how much it takes to get back up. That work shaped my heart, and even now that I live in Austin, I keep showing up for those who are struggling the most.

My move to Austin happened when I was offered a job completing life history investigations for individuals charged with capital murder. That sounded wild at first—like something out of my favorite podcast, honestly. But as interesting as it was, the work was way more law than helping people. What really lit me up was getting to know people stuck in the justice system and helping them find their footing. I spent time working with people on probation, giving the courts my take on what could actually help, and doing deep-dive investigations for folks facing the harshest charges. Now, I support people who’ve been found incompetent to stand trial, working to help them move forward.

What keeps me going is simple: I love being there for people when life gets heavy. There’s something meaningful about sitting with someone who feels alone and letting them know—hey, you’re not. You don’t have to keep it all inside. So many people think they have to carry mental health struggles by themselves. I want to be a safe place for them to set some of that down, even if it’s just for a while. I’m big on empathy—I really feel what others are going through—and I think that helps people open up and trust me. No judgment, just space to be real. We’re all human, and nobody gets it perfect all the time. We all have stuff to work through.

When it comes to getting better, there’s no easy road map. We all start somewhere, and every journey looks a little different. You can’t skip the hard parts, but you don’t have to go through them alone. If you’re ready for someone to walk with you—even if you’re not sure what the next step is—I’m right here, cheering you on. Let’s figure it out together.