- CBT
- Client-centered
- Motivational interviewing
About Amanda
Amanda Halawa-Mahdi is an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois with 23 years of professional experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, family conflict, and questions about life purpose. She also offers coaching for people wanting clearer direction in work and decision making.
Amanda draws on several practical psychotherapy approaches. She uses client-centered work to listen and reflect back what matters most to each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep problems stuck. Motivational Interviewing supports people who want to make a change but feel unsure how to begin.
Her background includes work in juvenile justice settings, where she focused on behavior change and motivation. She has coach training from the Co-Active Training Institute and brings that skillset to sessions that focus on values, confidence, and decision making. She also has experience with trauma and mood concerns, and with caregiver stress, workplace issues, and body image.
Amanda pays attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion and works to recognize and address bias in clinical work. She frames clients as the experts on their lives and treats therapy as a collaborative process. Sessions tend to focus on practical steps, clearer priorities, and skills for everyday life.
Services are delivered in English and follow Illinois practice standards. International clients are not accepted. Before booking, confirm the current session options and formats offered.
How Amanda's approaches are used online
Amanda often blends client-centered work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Client-centered work means she listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps each person name what matters most. CBT focuses on identifying patterns of thought and behavior and trying different practical strategies to change what isn’t working. Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels torn about change by exploring their own reasons and readiness for action.Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. She will talk with the client about goals, try a method, and adjust based on what helps. The therapist and client decide together which tools to use and how quickly to change course.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Many people appreciate online sessions because they can fit appointments into a workday, reduce travel time, or choose a shorter check-in when needed. Online work also makes it easier to focus on practical skills, homework between sessions, and steady progress toward clearer priorities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, family conflict, life purpose questions, and coaching for work and decision making.
How would she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
She combines client-centered listening with techniques from CBT and Motivational Interviewing to clarify goals and take small practical steps toward change.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 23 years of professional experience, including work focused on behavior change and motivation in juvenile justice settings.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in Illinois and practices according to Illinois standards.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats does she offer?
Confirm the current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.