My name is Amanda Woollard and I am currently licensed in Missouri and Illinois. Throughout my career I have gained experience in a number of settings including an inpatient psychiatric hospital, domestic violence shelter, an outpatient mental health clinic, and for the past eight years, private practice. I enjoy the freedom that private practice offers as it has allowed me to realize that my true passion is in helping adults to overcome the effects of negative childhood experiences. Traumas experienced as a child (big, small, and everything in between) can have lasting impacts well into adulthood including depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self worth, grief, panic, relationship issues, and many other challenges.

I am very supportive as a therapist and recognize the importance of involving my clients in deciding goals for treatment as well as the best therapy approaches to reach their goals.  I believe very strongly that a trusting relationship is crucial to the therapy process and therefore strive to create a comfortable, open environment. I do utilize some top-down therapy approaches which involves looking at how the brain is interpreting information and utilizes the more logical part of our brain. For this approach I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and some components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). For the clients and presenting issues I work with I more so believe in the power of bottom-up therapy approaches which utilize the lower parts of the brain which process sensory and emotional experiences. Accessing these parts of the brain is crucial in trauma recovery as they are where functions related to memory, emotion, and our internal alarm system are located. I utilize a number of therapies that are bottom-up including EMDR, Brainspotting, IFS, mindfulness, and Polyvagal informed therapy including the Safe and Sound Protocol. I am certified in EMDR and have completed levels 1 and 2 of Brainspotting.

Together we will identify your goals for therapy and develop a plan to help you achieve them.