We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Margolis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.
Hi Amy , thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
My clients love when I say, “its just Tuesday (or whatever day it is). Its a reminder, the past is over and the future never comes. So with regret, sadness, old trauma, we can process it today, but we are safe now. The future we worry about, we can do all we can about it today and surrender the results. And if we are in the midst of a crisis we can handle just about anything for this one day and trust it will shift and get better with right action. It also keeps us present in our life. There isn’t another life coming. This is it. This moment, this one day.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a licensed therapist in private practice and Co-Clinical Director of Santa Monica Counseling Center, where I supervise a staff of excellent associate therapists earning their hours for licensure.
I specialize in eating disorders, addictions, anxiety, depression, and relational issues, and utilize cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic therapeutic approaches and EMDR trauma therapy. I am also well-versed in 12-step recovery and spirituality, and the mind- body connection informs my practice.
I am the author of “Here’s the Memo! A Lifeguide for Women” and the Creator of “Break Free from Your Anorexic Mindset” for every woman who has ever let their appearance rob them of freedom joy, and personal power.
Outside the therapy world, I am a Groundlings and Meisner-trained actor who devoted my artistic career to voice-over work, while raising my three awesome children!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I got my masters at 23 and though I worked full-time never got the proper supervision to acrew my clinical hours to become licensed. Guess I was young and thought I would deal with it later. Fast forward as a mom of three young children I thought I better get back to that. I did it slowly over four years but I did it. And guess what? My hours were rejected because I got them at a private practice. What?! The issue, I had lived in CA before and if you get a second associate number (to get your LSCW) the fine print says “you cannot gain hours in a private practice setting.” I was devastated as I had a full roster of clients and my husband was going through a major health issue. I appealed it, fired off emails to all the right people to no avail. I was even slapped with a $1,000 fine. But I picked myself up. I found a supervisor at a nonprofit to take me and my caseload on and I actually paid rent to stay in my same office so my clients did not have to be disrupted. And lo and behold I got all those hours again! It taught me a lot about my strength, resilience and my ability to care for my clients, family, and myself even while feeling persecuted. I’m proud I was patient and didn’t give into bitterness. t made me truly appreciate who I am as a woman. My spirit.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I would one thousand percent choose the same profession. I absolutely love my work. I feel privileged to be a comfort, support, guide, and safe space in people’s lives. And if they weren’t my clients, I would want them as my friends.
I also love acting! Being able to do character voice over work is really fun. We are all creative, and I am grateful I get paid (occasionally) to play!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amymargolislcsw.com, https://amymargolisvo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymargolis_therapist/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-margolis-lcsw-5258141aa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyMargolis_Therapist
- Other: Book — https://a.co/d/06OkiQmD
Course — https://amymargolislcsw.learnworlds.com
Image Credits
Caroline Margolis