Dear Readers,
I’m Back!
After four months on maternity leave where I welcomed a very happy and healthy, beautiful baby girl, Ava Isabella, I am very much looking forward to getting back into the groove of balancing motherhood and professional work life [two areas of life of great importance to me], and of course doing some fantastic therapeutic work with current and future clients!
Upcoming Events
There are a few very important events coming up this month that I want to share with you, with the aim of continuing to raise awareness for these important causes, in addition to gently inviting those who are willing to participate in acting on them!
- The 6th Opioid Awareness Walk hosted by Essex Health & Wellness Recovery Center will be taking place on 10/28/2023. The important event is intended to spread awareness of the dangers of opioids & fentanyl; to remember those who have lost their lives to substance use disorder; to support the loved ones left behind; to thank those who help those struggling with addiction; and congratulate those who have given themselves the gift of recovery and a second chance at life!
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Community Walk is taking place in Essex County at Verona Park on 10/29/2023 at 11:30AM. This community walk offers an opportunity to remember those that we have lost; provide hope to those who are suffering; and support the community in the shared effort to #StopSuicide.
My Specialties
Post traumatic stress disorder, both simple and complex
Substance use disorder
Anxiety and depression
Grief & loss
Stress management
The delicate balance of motherhood & self-care, and all the emotional experiences that come with it, most notably, guilt!
My work with clients is heavily influenced by an evidence-based, compassionate, contemporary, third-wave cognitive behavioral lens with a focus on alleviating human suffering, making psychological space for the inevitable pain that comes from being human, all while increasing quality of life based on your own specific values. Clients can expect from me a deep appreciation for their present moment suffering, a genuine interest in their envisioned goals and values, with a focus on understanding where they came from and how there got here, and most importantly, helping each client create the life they want that is so worth living by letting go of what they cannot control, and controlling what they can. Put simply, my aim is to “Create Change through Courage, Compassion, and Connection”
If you would like to sign up for my monthly newsletter, please email [email protected] to be added to the mailing list or enter your email address below.
Until next time,
*Peace, Love, & Fierce Acceptance*
Dr. Amanda Aster-McKenna, Psy.D.
(She/Her/Hers)
NJ Licensed Psychologist #5888, Private Practice, Montclair, NJ
Adjunct Professor, Kean University, Department of Advanced Studies in Psychology
Manager, New York City Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
Board Member, Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris