Amy Sanchez, Ph.D.

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There are many factors that determine a good "fit" between client and therapist. Research suggests that clients who feel comfortable and connected with their therapist are more successful in their treatment, so it is important that you feel empowered to choose a clinician who helps you feel safe, supported, and ready to work. 

You may also want to consider the therapist's theoretical orientation (i.e., how do they approach therapy and what types of treatment do they use?) and their treatment style (e.g., will my therapist be particularly directive, reflective, actively engaged? Will my therapist ask me to participate in out-of-session tasks to practice my skills?). 

I am an active and engaged therapist, which means I will not sit back and quietly smoke a pipe while you lie on my office couch. I am passionate about helping you create the life you want and deserve to be living. I strive to create a collaborative therapy environment where you are an equal partner in identifying and continuing to define your treatment goals and treatment progress. I will support you and provide structured guidance as you gain the skills to take control of your symptoms and engage meaningfully with the life you would like to build.

Although I am an expert in the science of psychology and have over a decade of both research and clinical experience studying human behavior and treatment, you are the expert on your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I practice what I preach and continue to do my own work creating a life that supports my values and goals. My job is not to tell you what to do or how to live your life (after all, I am also human and make plenty of human mistakes!) but instead to help guide you in the process of identifying and following through with the goals that are meaningful to YOU. 

During the intake session, I will ask you about what brings you to therapy and your initial goals for treatment. I will also ask you about your history, including any prior treatment and experiences with therapy. Depending on your reason for coming to therapy, we may discuss specific treatments in more detail or I may ask you to complete one or more written measure about your symptoms to help inform your treatment. Over the first few sessions we will spend time getting to know each other and identifying goals for your treatment. I may ask you to commit to practicing skills, completing worksheets, or reflecting on topics from therapy between sessions. 

You can expect me to be authentic, fully present, and committed to your treatment. That does not always mean serious or stiff! I value the role of human connection in a therapy relationship and you can expect our sessions to include warmth, validation, and even humor as we work towards your treatment goals.

In return, I expect my clients will arrive ready to work. If you come to session under the influence of substances your session will be rescheduled and you will be charged for the missed session. Likewise, if you frequently do not show up for appointments or engage in other therapy-interfering behaviors, that is a sign that our work will not be effective at this time and we will review other options for your care.

Evidence based therapy is not meant to last forever, but the timeline for therapy varies based on several factors. Our ultimate goal is that you develop the skills and strategies to continue engaging meaningfully with the life you want to live outside therapy and become your own "therapist". The more you practice and apply the work we are doing in therapy to your life between sessions, the more quickly you are likely to feel better. Everyone's therapy timeline is different and we will discuss expectations at your intake appointment, but clients can expect to be in therapy for a few months to a few years. 

Depending on their symptoms and reason for coming to therapy, some individuals find they benefit from attending therapy for more than the minimum timeframe, especially to target more chronic difficulties or patterns. Remember, the more you put into therapy the more change you can expect.

I deeply believe in the human capacity for resilience and change. I am also confident in my abilities as a therapist and in the effectiveness of evidence-based practice. However, no therapist or treatment is the right fit for everyone. I encourage anyone working with me to feel safe bringing up questions or concerns about their treatment. Likewise, if I do not believe I have the specific expertise to help you, I will tell you and together we will work to identify other treatment options that can better meet your needs.

I am trained to work with adults of all ages and adolescents 15 and older. I generally do not work with younger adolescents because they may have treatment needs better met by a clinician specializing in child psychology. 

I am only certified to provide therapy in English. I also speak Italian and Spanish and I am happy to work with clients who depend on these languages to help express themselves fully in session. I will respond in English but can use multilingual techniques to facilitate quality care.

I happily welcome clients of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, abilities, and backgrounds.