Amanda Kesler, LCMHC

Amanda joined the La Europa Academy clinical team in 2016 and moved into the Executive Director Role in 2021. Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with clinical experience working as a primary therapist in residential treatment since 2010. Amanda’s clinical journey began as a residential staff at a treatment center where she continued to grow in the program and supervisory positions. After completing graduate studies, she was able to move into a primary therapist role. With experience as a therapist as well as a supervisor, Amanda has an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of residential treatment and her experience has aided her in being a highly effective counselor. In addition to Amanda’s extensive work in residential treatment, she has also provided in-home therapy and skills groups for child and adolescent clients in foster care and adoptive settings.

Amanda has additional training in DBT, Radically Open DBT, ACT, ERP and Emotion Focused Family Therapy. Additionally, Amanda has specialized in treating issues of trauma and attachment including clinical platforms of Brainspotting, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS), Trauma Stewardship, Trauma Informed Care, and Verbal De-escalation.

While Amanda is often described as calm and nurturing, she is also known to be firm with limits and boundaries. Amanda is married with 3 teenage step-kids and she has strong family ties. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new restaurants, camping, going to the beach, enjoying nature, and being a nerd with sci-fi and video games. Amanda also brings her Coton de Tulear, Oliver, to work most days. He is a fantastic co-therapist and loves to snuggle and get scratches.