Amanda G. Melendez, LSW

Amanda (she/they) is a licensed social worker and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Binghamton University. She received her Master of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago with a specialization in Mental Health. Amanda participated in an integrated behavioral health care training program in which she received a certificate in Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Children and Adolescents. Through this program, they received training in the use of evidence-based interventions, such as CBT, TF-CBT, MATCH, and parent management training for the treatment of a variety of mental health issues. Amanda has clinical experience working with children, adolescents and their family’s facing anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood disorders and mediating family dynamics in school, community organizations and hospital settings. 

Amanda is passionate about working with children, adolescents and their families and believes that early interventions can be a key part in long-lasting care and sets them up for future success to handle life challenges. Amanda’s therapeutic approach emphasizes creating a non-judgmental space where collaboration occurs to meet the clients’ goals and lived experiences. She utilizes CBT, mindfulness, strengths-based, multicultural, and feminist theories to empower clients. Amanda has also found the use of art and play therapy to be beneficial to the therapeutic process for clients. In their free time, Amanda enjoys arts and crafts projects, cooking, and finding new music.