Amanda Mendoza, LCSW, has been working with children and families since 2017. While completing her undergraduate degree, she completed her internship with a foster and adoption agency, working alongside a child social worker providing support to foster children and families. After graduating, she worked in a residential mental health setting for children who needed more support than outpatient settings could provide. While working there, she began working on her masters degree in social work. This is where she shifted to more of a clinical approach while still considering what systems impact children and their family, and how cultural factors can shape their experiences. After completing her graduate degree, she served children families while working in a community mental health setting. While there, she specialized in working with trauma in children by certifying in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She also certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) while working with the birth-to-five population. This is to help strengthen parent and child attachment while working on reducing difficult behaviors. Amanda's approach is trauma-informed, relationship-centered, and evidence-based. She integrates structured models like TF-CBT and PCIT while maintaining a strong social work lens that considers family systems, culture, and environmental stressors. Her goal is not only to reduce symptoms, but to strengthen parent-child relationships and equip families with practical tools for lasting change. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys being a mother and spending time with her family. She also enjoys reading, crocheting, and watching football when the season starts!