Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Neiman.
Hi Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was about 13 years old my parents put me in therapy due to lots of family system changes. I really enjoyed having an adult to talk to in such a casual way. I remember the therapist kicking her shoes off and sitting. in her chair cross legged to get comfortable, and I thought to myself “I could do that.”
When I was a senior in high school I had the opportunity to do duel credits for college and high school so I started with psych 101 (and the basic English and math etc.). I really enjoyed the class and took it very seriously and I knew I was making the right choice.
After getting my bachelor’s degree I wanted to make sure I was cut out for the mental health field so I looked for any entry level position. Growing up in the IE didn’t yield a lot of options so I would commute to San Diego or Orange County for a long time. Eventually a job promotion brought me to LA, which was never somewhere I wanted to be, but I’ve fallen in love with the city and I’ll never leave now. I’ve been in LA nearly ten years now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Grad school was definitely a challenge. It really opened my eyes to the flawed systems of education we have and how higher education is not always attainable for low income individuals. I had to get 850 hours of work just to graduate and most places are not paying money for interns still in school. A lot of my peers had spouses to support them.
During internship, my father got diagnosed with stage four cancer which also caused things to be very complicated. He supported me a lot financially so that I could work my unpaid internship in LA and I would drive to go take care of him In Rancho Cucamonga a few times a week. I still got into a lot of debt during that time because he couldn’t fully financially support me but I don’t regret a thing. I’m really grateful I was able to spend that time with him though. Unfortunately, he passed just a few months before I completed my master’s program. I know he was very proud of me.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have no official business name so far but someday as my small business grows I will! I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that works with anxiety, depression, and trauma to name a few things. I primarily do EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Currently, it is just me and a few unlicensed therapists.
My clients really appreciate my casual and friendly demeanor. I have tattoos and I wear a lot of black so I don’t look like your “typical” therapist. A lot of people complain about how stoic and quiet many therapists can be, but that is definitely not me. I love working with people who are motivated for change and I am always willing to push my clients in the right directions (as needed of course! Gotta meet people where they are at sometimes).
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Getting into private practice therapy is definitely a long game. I think it is extremely important to work and gain experience in treatment settings first to learn more structured environments and become familiar with different levels of care. Going to grad school and starting your own business is not for the weak but if you want it you can do it.
Pricing:
- $200 Individual Therapy 50 minutes (sliding scale available)
- $250 Couples Therapy 50 minutes
- $150 Individual Therapy with unlicensed clinician (sliding scale available)
- $200 Couples Therapy with unlicensed clinician (sliding scale available)
- I also accept a few insurance plans.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amanda-neiman.clientsecure.me
- Instagram: @a.tattooed.therapist
Image Credits
All my original photos.
