Amy Neal (she/her)

MA, LCMHC
Accepting Clients

I help people figure out why they have strong emotional reactions and anxiety that hold them back in relationships & life opportunities.

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Hickory, NC

Services
  • Individual

About My Clients

I work with people who frequently feel on edge, worried, and have a hard time relaxing and enjoying the present moment. It often feels like anxiety, sadness, or frustration may sneak attack them interrupting their lives and relationships. Many of the people I work with have had rought experiences in their pasts, growing up with unhealthy family dynamics, living a narcissitic parent, emotionally unavailable parents, childhood sexual abuse, job loss, or difficult relationships in adulthood.

My Background and Approach

I teach practical tools to manage emotional attacks in the here & now, figuring out how to reduce their frequency & intensity. We will balance learning skills with exploring your past to understand how experiences affected you, how you really felt in the aftermath, whether you were supported at the time, & what beliefs about yourself, others & the world you formed because of those experiences. We may use EMDR to help the past stay in the past, not impact the present so strongly. We will seek to understand your generational family history, family rules, secrets and roles, & how these affected you growing up and continue to affect you in adult life. We will learn about healthy and loving boundaries with others-- whether family, friends, or work. Implementing boundaries can be scary and feel wrong, so we'll talk through why this feels wrong, and how to communicate them respectufully. The goal is to help you live life to the fullest potential and help you become who you are meant to be.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

A few of my personal experiences and beliefs strongly affect my approach. I was raised as a Third-Culture Kid in Mexico in a multicultural family (American/Caucasian father and a Guatemalan mother). Due to my cultural experiences, I partciularly enjoy working with others who have navigated cross cultural transitions, whether as NGO workers, in international business, as first or second generation immigrants, etc. In addition, I was raised as a Christian and while I still hold to my beliefs, I've also seen how religious organizations can be unhealthy, emotionally toxic, and not at all how Christ intended us to be. I am passionate about helping people untangle from past hurtful or abusive experiences, so they can know God for who He is and be able to experience His love if they so desire. This can be incredibly deep and complicated work, and I aim to let the people I work with lead how/when they navigate their journey of healing faith.

Techniques I Use

Specialties
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Other Techniques
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment Theory
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Family Systems
  • Trauma Therapy

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Anxiety Family Conflict Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Other Issues
  • Abuse
  • ADHD Therapists
  • Anger Issues
  • Anxiety
  • Attachment
  • Body Image Issues
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Family Conflict
  • Historical/ Intergenerational Trauma
  • Immigration/Acculturation
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Self-Harm
  • Sexual Abuse or Assault
  • Suicidal Thoughts
Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Cigna
  • Optum
  • United Behavioral Health (UBH)
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
  • Oxford Health Plan
  • United Healthcare
  • UMR
  • MedCost
I offer online counseling in the following states:
I have experience with the following
  • Christianity

At A Glance

  • Experience: 12 years of practice
  • Languages: English, Español
  • Rate: $100 - 130/session

Info

Email Amy
520 8th ST NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Reach out to Amy