Amandia Speakes-Lewis Psychotherapy, LCSW

Amandia Speakes-Lewis has over two decades of social work experience servicing adults, couples, and families. Her work utilizes solution-focused perspectives, spiritual assessment, and psychodynamic approaches to help clients overcome life obstacles. She uses various models, like CBT and narrative therapies, to help clients address anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and PTSD.

Specialties

General Mental Health
Anxiety and Panic Disorders
Personal Growth and Self-Esteem
General relationship challenges (family, friends, co-workers)
Religion and Spirituality

Pay with insurance

UnitedHealthcare
Oxford Health Plans
Cigna
Aetna
UMR
Oscar
UHC Student Resources

Pay out-of-pocket

$ $ $ $ $

$80-140
Sliding Scale

A sliding scale is a range of out of pocket fees that providers accept based on financial need.

Licensed in

New York

“My research in the areas of anxiety and depression, spirituality, and grief and loss has helped inform my work.”

What was your path to becoming a therapist?

I am a practicing social worker and college professor. My experience as a college professor in social work and mental health administration allows me to bring researched treatment models to my practice. My research in the areas of anxiety and depression, spirituality, and grief and loss has helped inform my work. I meet the client where they are and help them understand their strengths within to overcome life's challenges.

What should someone know about working with you?

I take time to understand where the client is during the intake process. Clients are met with empathy and understanding. Clients complete a thorough intake and provide additional information during the session to develop clarity about what they believe needs to be addressed. Homework is assigned between sessions to help clients further explore and build awareness of things that occur in their everyday lives.

Have you done any research-based work that you found particularly exciting? How does it inform your practice today?

I have done research, published, and presented on topics of spirituality-based approaches in mental health counseling. In my practice, there are many individuals addressing loss. When asked if spirituality is a component of their coping, many shy away from the answer. This prompted me to do research on the use of spirituality in mental health and I found that there are varied models related to addressing spirituality to help clients cope with loss and issues. I am the author of, “The Move Toward American Modernity: Empowerment and Individualism in the Black Mega Church” from the Journal of African American Studies. My practice includes an assessment that explores one’s spirituality as a coping mechanism as part of treatment.

“I meet the client where they are and help them understand their strengths within to overcome life's challenges.”

Interested in speaking with Amandia?