Amanda Cross

Amanda Cross is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 20 years of clinical experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem struggles, and coping with life changes. Amanda also works with compassion fatigue and issues related to caregivers, chronic illness, divorce, and questions about life purpose.

Her approach is straightforward and conversational. She listens to each person’s story and treats them as the expert on their own life. Sessions focus on practical steps, clearer thinking, and habits that can make day-to-day life feel more manageable.

Amanda uses a mix of well-established methods to fit what a person brings into session. She draws on client-centered work to follow the client’s priorities, cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and mindfulness practices to build attention and calm. Motivational interviewing and existential ideas also appear when people are making big choices or questioning meaning.

In session she helps people break problems into small, doable pieces. Conversations may include examining thought patterns, trying new behaviors between sessions, and practicing ways to notice and reduce stress. She aims to help people increase confidence and make clearer decisions about next steps.

Amanda’s experience includes supporting veterans, people facing post-traumatic stress, new parents, and young adults navigating transitions. She works in English and is based in California. To begin, people follow the site process to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.

How Amanda’s approaches translate to online work

Amanda commonly blends client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness work. Client-centered therapy means sessions follow what the person brings and focus on their priorities. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at patterns of thinking and behavior to identify small changes that can reduce anxiety and improve mood. Mindfulness practices teach simple attention and breathing skills that help with stress and emotional regulation.

Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Amanda approaches this collaboratively and will help figure out which approaches fit a person’s goals and preferences. She looks at what someone wants to change and suggests practical steps and exercises that can be tried and adjusted over time.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when a full hour is not needed. They also let people try tools and exercises in their normal routines, which can make applying new skills more straightforward.