About AMANDA

Amanda Press, PsyD

Registered Psychological Associate

The Center for Connection

Amanda (she/her) is a licensed associate clinical psychologist who has worked for over two decades with individuals of all ages with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship stress. As someone who believes in life-long learning, she is passionate about working with individuals who are going through significant life transitions, parenthood, relationship conflict, career stress and shame and self-criticism. People who experience these difficulties may struggle to feel relieved, reassured, or safe. This lack of emotional safeness can cause difficulty in living rewarding lives. Amanda believes that every person can achieve a mind that is healthy, wise, resilient, and kind. We all experience various forms of suffering over the course of our lives and in those challenging moments, we can turn to our internal resources to heal ourselves and begin to live more fully.

Amanda’s work is informed by interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), evolutionary, social, and developmental psychology, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems and Compassion Focused Therapy. Her clinical approach as well as personal experiences in the study and practice of Buddhist psychology allows her to utilize a compassion-focused lens to achieve collaborative strength-based interventions. She believes in a strong therapeutic relationship that is grounded in empathic support, compassion, attunement, and safety to facilitate healing and growth.

Amanda earned her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from City University in London, a masters in psychology from Liverpool University, and earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at California Southern University. Since then, she has trained extensively with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and Paul Gilbert, the founder of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Her personal experience of the joys and challenges parenting two young adult sons has led to a commitment to support parents recognize self-compassion as an inner strength that enables us to be more fully human, validate our needs, and make necessary changes with kindness so we can show up more fully for our children, and our families. 

Amanda has traveled and worked in countries such as the UK, South Africa, and Canada, and for many years was the founder of a private clinical practice offering mental health services in the UK whilst working alongside the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Amanda recently relocated to Southern California with her sons. She spends her time enjoying the great outdoors, meditating, and cooking with her children who love food!

Amanda is a Registered Psychological Associate: PSB 94026692

She is currently under the supervision of Dr. Cathy Schaefer, Licensed Clinical Psychologist: PSY 30365