Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Averbeck. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My great great grandmother barely survived The Great Storm of 1900 in Galveston. You know, the hurricane that no one knew was coming and it wiped out most of the town. She only survived because her dad personally swam each of his 16 children from one island to the light house so they could reach higher ground. She was the last person to enter the lighthouse before they closed the door.

I grew up hearing this story from my grandmother. I was fascinated. It gave me goosebumps every time. I was thrilled by the fact that one defining moment in time determined whether the rest of us ever got a chance to come to this earth or not. My takeaway was, “Wow. What determination!”

I come from a long line of determined people, people who seem to thrive after difficult times.

My parents continued to pass this on and more. Hardship was met with determination to keep going and an unspoken question of “What can we do with this?” They also persistently encouraged my siblings and I to continually contemplate our purpose in life.

My takeaway became, “What beauty can be created from this?” Or “How can I help others, now that I have been through this?” So naturally I became a counselor.

I am grateful to my parents for providing a space for me to move through existential crisis so early in life. And I am extremely grateful for my great great great grandpa for diligently swimming each child to the lighthouse that fateful night.

Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate Supervised by Dr Gena St David, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC-S. I specialize in working with young families. My services include Couples Counseling, Divorce Discernment, and Deep Inner Work with Adults. With couples I take on the role of a Communication Coach, helping each partner dig deep to figure out what they want to say, then guiding them to say it in a way their partner can hear so connection can be reestablished. When working with individuals, we work together to make sense of your inner world so you can start making different choices in your external world.

I am Internal Family Systems informed, which is an evidenced based therapy for many ailments including depression, anxiety, and trauma (Shadick, et al, 2013; Hodgdon, Anderson, Southwell, Hrubec, Schwartz, 2021). I am also level one trained in Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy, which is known to be helpful for women dealing with postpartum mood disorders, as well as couples (Wretman, 2015; Lee 2009). Woven among these two models of therapy, I, apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a 3rd wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am empathic, compassionate, and flexible. Ready to tailor therapy to your unique needs and wants.

In addition to being a counselor, I love to write. I’ve recently finished writing a chapter about The Satir Model for an internationally used textbook. In my free time, I love to read, create fluid art, go on walks, and drink lattes.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Humility. I believe the client is the expert of their lived experience. It takes humility to suspend my own perspective and assumptions about what that person’s life might be like to listen to what their life is actually like.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Lori Gottlieb is one of my favorite authors. Her book, “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” had me laughing and crying in the same chapter. Somehow, she captured the essence of being human in book form. It moved me to want to be a more connecting therapist AND client. (Yes therapists have therapists.) To this day it might be the book which has impacted how I interact with clients the most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authenticallyrootedcounseling.com/provider
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticallyrooted_counseling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaAverbeckLMFTAssociate
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/authentically-rooted-counseling/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/authentically-rooted-counseling-fort-worth
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/amanda-averbeck-supervised-by-dr-gena-st-david-fort-worth-tx/852904 https://meetmonarch.com/therapist/amanda-averbeck-marriage-and-family-therapist-associate-fort-worth-tx https://therapist.com/clinician/amanda-averbeck-97972/

Image Credits
@AmberShumake https://lorigottlieb.com/books/maybe-you-should-talk-to-someone/ https://bolivarpointlighthouse.org/history/