Amanda Papenfus

Hi, I’m Amanda, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and pre-licensed therapist. I hold a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from Bowie State University and have over 8 years of experience treating those with substance use issues and co-occurring disorders. I primarily work with adults and have worked with adolescents (12-20). If you’re ready to take the next step toward healing and growth, I’d be honored to navigate your therapeutic journey with you. I am primarily available via telehealth, making it easier for you to access care from the comfort of your own space. I do have limited availability in clinic for those who prefer in-person sessions.

I strive to create a safe space for clients to explore their unique experiences and discover ways to heal and thrive that work best for them. In that spirit, I work from a person-centered lens and tailor my therapeutic approach to each client’s needs and preferences. While there are some clinical decisions that I might make independently and/or with guidance from a supervisor, primarily you are the one in charge of deciding which path(s) we take in your therapeutic journey. Even if you’re mandated to attend treatment and/or have people who have authority over some aspects of your care, there are still many aspects that will be your choice, which may include what involvement, if any, they have in your care, what information they receive, and how it is disclosed.

I’m here to hold space for what you bring to session. If it is important to you to incorporate spirituality, culture, family, art, writing, visual media, games, etc. I’m happy to collaborate on how to do that in a therapeutic way. If you don’t want to talk, there are approaches in which you might not have to much, if at all. For example, I am certified in hypnotherapy, which is kind of like guided meditation except you don’t have to mindfully follow along since it’s your subconscious I’m talking to. If you want to talk but don’t know what you want to process, or you aren’t ready to directly address specifics, there are approaches in which we can talk about something you might initially think is totally unrelated to any issues (e.g a painting or other art, a dream you had, or even what you see around the room you’re in) and you might be surprised at what insights arise. Regardless what you bring or don’t, I believe everything is something we can work with and through, even silence.

I am particularly passionate about working with those who are LGBTQIA2S+, neurodivergent, and/or navigating chronic illness, chronic pain, disability, substance use issues, trauma, and/or dissociation. As it’s important for some clients to know up front if a clinician has lived experience in these areas, I want to share that I do in all of them, although in session I base self-disclosure on potential therapeutic benefit and client preference.

Outside of work, some things I enjoy include writing, reading, painting, music, and video games.