Amanda Garcia , LCSW

Amanda Garcia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Arizona with ten years of clinical experience. Originally from the Midwest, she has called Arizona home for nearly 15 years and has practiced in a variety of settings since completing her education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 2011 and completed a master’s degree at Arizona State University in 2012 through the Advanced Standing Program. In 2015 she obtained her initial LMSW credential through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health and has since advanced to LCSW status, a credential that permits independent clinical practice.

Amanda works with people facing a wide range of concerns including trauma from domestic violence and abuse, abandonment, grief and loss, extreme poverty, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders. She also supports clients navigating stress, self-esteem struggles, family and parenting challenges, career changes, anger, and many other life transitions. Her additional focus areas include attachment and adoption issues, caregiver stress, codependency, communication and control problems, dissociation, and related concerns.

Her style is described as down-to-earth, easy to connect with, empathetic, and goal oriented. Amanda practices in an authentic, strengths-based, and nonjudgmental manner, favoring individualized treatment plans rather than a one-size-fits-all model. She collaborates with each person to develop goals and strategies that reflect their values and needs, integrating interventions from several evidence-informed approaches. If a person in Arizona is ready to begin, Amanda offers support to help them move toward healing and coping. In emergencies she advises calling 911 or the local 24/7 crisis line for urgent mental health needs.

Approaches That Guide Online Care

Amanda often draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to guide online work. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and collaboration, helping people explore their values and build self-understanding so they can make meaningful changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and shifting thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety, depression, or stress, offering practical strategies to manage symptoms and improve daily functioning.

She also uses principles from Dialectical Behavior Therapy when emotion regulation, distress tolerance, or interpersonal challenges are central concerns. DBT teaches skills for managing intense emotions, improving communication, and tolerating distress without resorting to harmful behaviors. Amanda tailors these approaches to each person’s needs and life context so therapy fits the individual rather than the other way around.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Amanda works collaboratively with clients to determine what methods and goals feel most helpful. For people seeking flexibility, online therapy offers several practical benefits. Sessions can take place by video call or phone, and additional support is available through live chat or text-based messaging, which can make it easier to access care around work, family, or geographic constraints. These options help licensed professionals provide consistent, ongoing support while accommodating different schedules and communication preferences.