
Amanda Pena, LSW – DBT Primary Therapist
DBT Primary Therapist
About
Amanda C. Peña, LSW, is a dedicated clinician who integrates trauma-responsive care with a deep understanding of how our environments influence both individual and community healing. With over a decade of experience, Amanda specializes in culturally competent, healing-centered approaches, focusing on the impacts of systemic oppression and intergenerational trauma on mental health.
Amanda’s diverse background as an educator and urban planner uniquely informs her therapeutic practice. She has developed and taught courses that explore the connection between urban design, community development, and healing, particularly within marginalized communities. Her commitment to youth empowerment is evident in her leadership of participatory action research programs, where she helps young people become leaders and change agents within their communities.
A central element of Amanda’s practice is her emphasis on inner-child work. She guides clients in healing from childhood traumas, helping them reconnect with their inner child and learn to care for their adult selves with the love, support, and protection they needed and deserved growing up. This approach fosters a deep sense of safety and self-compassion, essential for lasting healing.
As a first-generation Chicana, cisgender, demisexual woman, Amanda brings her lived experiences into her practice, creating a culturally sensitive and inclusive space for all her clients. She uses a relationship-based, harm-reductive approach rooted in unconditional support, grace, and understanding.
Outside of her professional work, Amanda enjoys being active outdoors and engaging in DIY projects, including woodwork, ceramics, and sewing. These creative outlets allow her to decompress and bring balance to her life, enhancing her ability to support her clients. Amanda’s blend of professional expertise and personal passion makes her a compassionate and insightful partner in the healing journey.
Education
University of Pennsylvania - Master of Social Work, 2021.
Why you are passionate about your job?
Amanda's commitment to mental health care stems from her experiences as a first-generation Chicana, where she experienced firsthand the effects of intergenerational trauma, as well as witnessed its ongoing effects on her loved ones and community. Her passion is fueled by a desire to ensure that others have access to the care and support they need to break cycles of trauma and build healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Specialties
