Amanda Cross

Compassionate, practical support for life transitions

LCSW California

Experience: 20 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Amanda

Amanda Cross is a California-licensed clinical social worker with two decades of experience supporting people navigating stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem struggles, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

She centers her practice on the belief that each person is the expert of their own story, and she helps clients draw on their existing strengths to face challenges such as compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and relationship endings. Her work integrates practical, evidence-informed techniques alongside reflective, person-focused listening.

Amanda uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, and she combines this with client-centered and existential approaches that honor values, meaning, and personal agency. She also weaves in mindfulness and motivational interviewing to support motivation, self-compassion, and sustainable change.

Based in California, Amanda offers an empathetic, collaborative style that aims to meet people where they are while encouraging growth toward clearer priorities and greater well-being.

Applying practical therapies in online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathetic listening and collaborative goal setting, allowing clients to explore feelings and values while the therapist follows their lead and supports self-directed growth. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering concrete tools for managing anxiety, stress, and mood through structured exercises and practice. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and compassionate attention to thoughts and sensations, which can reduce reactivity and support coping with chronic pain, grief, and compassion fatigue.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Amanda collaborates with each person to determine what methods fit best. Together they consider the client’s goals, concerns, and preferences, and adjust techniques over time so the work remains relevant and effective for the individual.

Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and levels of comfort. These options make it easier to access continuity of care and to practice skills between sessions, while allowing licensed professionals to tailor pacing and format to each person’s needs.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Amanda commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem issues, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, and also focuses on areas like caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, and divorce.

What is her therapeutic style and approach?

Her style is collaborative and strengths-focused, blending client-centered listening with practical therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, existential and narrative elements.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 20 years of professional experience working in clinical settings and with individuals facing a range of life stressors and transitions.

Where is Amanda licensed and practicing?

She is licensed as an LCSW in California under license number CA LCSW 27651 and provides services while based in that state.

Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are conducted in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

She offers multiple remote formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different preferences and schedules.

How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteem Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Caregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative Therapy

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English