Dras Counseling

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Call: 518-730-4295

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“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress.”

— Sophia Bush

ABOUT ME

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ABOUT ME

Hello! I am Dr. Amanda Student, DSW, LCSW, CCTP

Have you been feeling stuck or wondering if therapy is really worth it? Those questions are natural, especially when life feels overwhelming. Beginning therapy can be a brave first step toward understanding your story and finding relief. I believe healing happens through a collaborative, compassionate process—one rooted in trust and free of judgment. Together, we’ll use creative therapeutic approaches to help you reconnect with your strengths and move toward feeling more like yourself again.

Call Me Now and Make an Appointment

518-730-4295

Email: drascounseling@gmail.com

Dr. Amanda Student,

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Doctorate in Social Work

For Adults

I offer a warm, confidential space for talk therapy with easy access to care, where you can feel comfortable, supported, and truly heard.

For Children

You’re welcome to reach out if your child, teen, or family is going through a difficult time—I’m here to listen, support you, and help you take the next step forward.

WHAT I OFFER FOR YOU

Therapies & Treatments

Anxiety

Do you often feel overwhelmed, on edge, or constantly worried? Anxiety can show up as your mind’s attempt to protect you from perceived danger, but over time it can become exhausting and disruptive. You may find yourself overthinking every decision, feeling tense or restless, and struggling to quiet your thoughts. If anxiety has begun to take over your daily life, support is available—and relief is possible.

Life Transitions and Adjustments

Life transitions are a natural part of life, and even positive changes can bring stress and uncertainty. Transitions may include changes in school or work, loss of relationships, divorce or separation, relocation, marriage, or other major life shifts. If you are feeling overwhelmed by a recent change, we can work together to build coping strategies, process emotions, and regain a sense of balance and confidence.

Trauma

Trauma can result from directly experiencing or witnessing events that feel threatening, overwhelming, or unsafe. It may occur as a single incident or develop over time through repeated experiences. Trauma can include emotional, verbal, financial, or sexual abuse, medical trauma, accidents, violence, or other distressing events. Everyone responds to trauma differently. In therapy, we focus on creating safety and trust so you can gently process these experiences, reduce their impact, and move forward with greater strength and stability.

Eating Disorders and Body Image

When difficult emotions arise, it’s natural to want relief from the discomfort. Food can sometimes feel like both a source of comfort and a source of distress, especially when it becomes a way to cope with overwhelming feelings. You may find yourself eating too much, too little, or wishing you could have a more peaceful relationship with food. In therapy, we can work collaboratively to understand these patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and build a more balanced, compassionate relationship with food and your body.

All Specialties

Trauma, Abuse & Emotional Safety

Trauma and overwhelming experiences
Sexual abuse and recovery support
Self-harm behaviors and safety support
Domestic violence and relationship trauma

Anxiety, Depression & Mood Disorders

Anxiety, worry, and chronic stress
Depression and mood disorders
Mood swings and emotional regulation
Anger management

Eating Disorders, Body Image & Self-Esteem

Eating concerns and disordered eating
Body image struggles
Self-esteem and confidence building

Life Transitions, Grief & Adjustment

Life changes and adjustment challenges
Grief and loss

Child, Adolescent & Family Therapy

ADHD and attention concerns
Behavioral and defiant challenges
Family conflict and communication issues
Gender identity exploration and support

We live in a digital age where technology plays an important role in our daily lives. While it brings many benefits, it can also create the need for flexible and accessible support. Online therapy allows you to receive care from the comfort of your home and at times that fit your schedule. I offer secure, confidential online therapy to best meet the needs of my clients and make support more accessible.

In individual therapy, clients work one-on-one with me in a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment focused on collaboration and growth. Sessions are tailored to your goals and needs, using a variety of approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, Motivational Interviewing, and solution-focused techniques.

Family therapy focuses on strengthening relationships by improving communication, understanding different perspectives, and creating healthier patterns of interaction. Sessions help provide structure, build confidence, and support families in developing skills that foster connection, cooperation, and greater awareness of how individual behaviors impact the family system as a whole.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a structured, person-centered form of psychotherapy. The goal is to modify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving. CBT is effective at treating depression, anxiety-related disorders, including phobias and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorders), SUD’s (substance use disorders), PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and Bipolar Disorders. You will learn to monitor negative thoughts, replace irrational thoughts with more reasonable, empowering ones.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of CBT that was designed to help people let go of self-defeating patterns. DBT is commonly utilized to decrease anxiety, manage stress, alleviate depression and improve relationships with the people in your life. DBT helps you to regulate your emotions by learning about triggers that lead you to react in detrimental ways and then practicing appropriate coping skills.

Solution Based Therapy

Solution Based Therapy is a goal-oriented technique that utilizes your personal history to aid in responding to present day challenges. By learning more about your strengths and resilience we will work together to help you identify what approaches, skills, or coping methods are most useful in your current situation. This is a person-centered approach that will help you to understand what works in certain areas of your life and apply it to other areas of your life.

TESTIMONIALS

What Clients Say

“Dr. Student has had a tremendously positive impact on my life in the short 6 months that I have been seeing her. Whether I come into a session with a lot to talk about, or nothing, she has a way of asking reflective questions that make me articulate my fears and anxieties, recognize what’s holding me back, and come to terms with what is out of my control. Her balance of kindness and compassion, while asking to-the-point questions, make it easy to open up and work through my thoughts and feelings out loud. I come out of each session feeling lighter, having expressed what I am feeling, and strategized how to address the root cause. I am extremely thankful to have found Dr. Student at a time when I was feeling very low, and although I still have a lot of work to do, I come out of each session feeling like I’ve made progress! Thank you Amanda”

“I am so incredibly thankful for Amanda coming into my life over the past year. She has played an integral part in helping me through my profound grief and anxiety. I connected with her immediately…she listens, is compassionate and offers extremely helpful advice. Her guidance and perspective has gotten me through the worst days of my life. She’s been very accessible and accommodating and I really look forward to speaking to her every week. Amanda has truly been a blessing to me!”

“My son is 9 year old and has a gifted therapist – She has many gifts but the most valuable one is she was able to reach my son and he is totally comfortable with her and quickly opened up to her. ‘Mom, she is terrific. I love talking with her and feel I can try to conquer the issues I struggle with, I am so lucky mom.’ I would never hesitate to recommend her services. In a ranking from 1-10, ten being the highest, Dr Amanda Student would receive a score of 11.”