410-541-6686
AMANDA FINCHER, LCPC
Mental health counseling in southern Anne Arundel County
My Story
About Amanda…
I currently serve clients Deale, Maryland located in southern Anne Arundel County (SoCo) and around the state virtually. My specialty is working with teen and preteen girls and supporting the mothers who love them.
Born and raised in Cecil County, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of Maryland College Park. I currently live in a rural area within Anne Arundel County, which has enabled me to enjoy a small community life, including the joy of keeping chickens.
As a Professional School Counselor, I have worked closely with children Pre-K through 8th grade and implemented over a hundred 504 plans for students with additional educational needs. I have also practiced as a child therapist, supporting children and teens in individual sessions with a variety of developmental, social and emotional needs as well as issues related to body image and puberty.
_edited_edited_edited.jpg)
My role as a therapist has also included adults. With training in mental health, suicide prevention, trauma-focused therapy, crisis intervention, and emergency planning and response, I've used my skills to help First Responders and victims of Natural Disasters with the American Red Cross.
​
As a National Board Certified Teacher and School Counselor, I have had the pleasure of presenting at national conferences on the topic of Measuring Mindfulness in a School Setting and Implementing Second Step. Additionally, I have delivered over 100 mental health workshops and presentations to educators, leadership and parents.
​
I am also a Master Reiki Practitioner and enjoy integrating Reiki and mindfulness into my therapeutic sessions with teens and adults.
​
About Amanda’s therapy for teens…
Therapy doesn’t have to be boring or hard.
My work with teen girls is based upon communicating acceptance (Humanistic Therapy). From there, we work on challenging cognitive dissonance (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), creating the child’s own road map rules (Dialectal Behavior Therapy), all while integrating play (Play Therapy) and arts (Art Therapy).
I remember vividly the feelings, nuances, and thoughts of being a teenage girl. Throughout much of my adolescence, I felt so self-conscious; sometimes crippled with worries. You may notice my logo is a sun. This is symbolic of the insecure and uncertain feelings I kept as a teen, causing me to develop a hatred of the sun. The sun reminded me that all my friends were outside, enjoying life, while I was at home hiding in fear.
I now recognize that so much of this struggle was part of normal adolescence, and I embrace sunrises as a symbol of the fun, freedom and creativity of this time of life. The sun is a renewal, a new day, a new way to cope, to move with the turmoil of the world, to express ourselves and to create joy and serenity.
Recognizing, both personally and professionally, the difficulties related to the breadth of changes that occur for girls during adolescence, I find it especially fulfilling to support teen girls as well as their mothers, who may find it equally challenging to bridge the subsequent fluctuations in their daughter’s identity, behavior, boundaries and communication.
Through our talks, artistic activities, walks and energy exchange, I can help your daughter rise like the sun and I can help you, help her.