My name is Amanda M. Wyatt-Pontrelli. I have been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Board Certified Art Therapist, and Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor who has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults and elders for over 20 years. I believe in a holistic approach to psychotherapy.
Working at a local community mental health center for 12 years provided me with a strong foundation and opportunity to work with a variety of client populations on the campus, including Outpatient Therapy, Children's Services, Chemical Dependency & Addictions, & Inpatient Psych. I have also worked with those affected by Cancer in Hematology/Oncology since 1999. I strongly believe in the mind-body-spirit connection in healing.
I am dedicated to supporting & empowering you to find your voice as you work on living your best life and becoming the best version of you. I specialize in individual, group & family therapy, and maintain a private practice in Valparaiso, Indiana, where I live with my two amazing sons.
I wholeheartedly believe that in each of us there is a need to tell our story and be heard by another person. Sometimes when we tell our story the other person does not hear us or understand us- for any number of reasons. Of course, a psychotherapist is trained to make sense; to bring order out of the stories a client is telling us. We do this with the help of the client. Art psychotherapy can make this task easier. The visual piece of art becomes the vehicle through which our thoughts & feelings are understood. Art therapy uses the client's own art work to make more objective that which is subjective.
My journey in to the field of mental health began at age 5 when my mother died of breast cancer. I went to therapy as a child for my grief, and as I grew, utilized art as a healing tool to help me cope with emotions and core beliefs. A defining moment in my life was when I was a student in the early college program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago while still in high school. It was at SAIC that I learned about the field of art psychotherapy, and knew it was the career path I wanted to follow for the rest of my life. I realized if I could help others in moments of grief or sorrow tell the stories of their lives using art as a vehicle, I would be living my purpose and coming full circle.
I provide acceptance and a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment to guide clients of all ages, races and sexual orientations in exploring issues that have been impacting your growth.
FAQ about Amanda
What degree(s) do you have?
I received my Bachelors in Psychology & Art from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois in 1998. In 2001, I graduated with my Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology & Art Therapy from The Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL (now known as Adler University).
Are you licensed?
Yes.
I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (39001619A) in the State of Indiana. I am also a Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (87000460A) in the State of Indiana. I am a Board Certified Art Psychotherapist (04-139), and also licensed as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (180-005554) in the State of Illinois.
What is your experience?
My first job out of graduate school was at Porter Starke Services in Valparaiso, where I worked for 12 years from 2001-2013. In my position at Porter Starke, I had an amazing opportunity to work in all aspects of community mental health across the campus. This included facilitating groups and psychosocial assessments on the inpatient psychiatric unit, groups in chemical dependency & addictions, working with children, adolescents & families in inpatient, residential and outpatient day treatment programs, with the chronic mentally ill in a day treatment setting, in Experiential Therapy on the low ropes challenge course, and in Outpatient Therapy. I was an Outpatient Therapist for 8 years prior to resigning. It was an amazing place to work to gain experience with such a variety of clients. I worked closely with psychiatrists, case managers, and our admissions team to help clients access treatment. I resigned in 2013 due to my second child being born with a congenital birth defect and having to care for his needs and weekly visits to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.
I have also worked at The Cancer Resource Centre in Munster, IN since 2008. Here, I work with those affected by cancer. This includes those with a present diagnosis, those in remission, and caregivers who are affected by this illness. I also provide these services here in Valparaiso quarterly at the Valparaiso Health Center via the Cancer Resource Centre in Munster. If you are interested in attending my Art Therapy group at the Cancer Resource Centre, please contact Director Anthony Andello at (219) 836-3349.
Now, I am living my career dream working in private practice in the city I grew up. It is here where I put to practice all of my career experiences working with individuals, children, groups, and families, and help people reach their goals in working toward becoming the best version of themselves.
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy. The visual piece of art, whether it is a drawing, a painting, sculpture, or the drawing assessment tool, becomes the vehicle through which our thoughts, feelings, attitude and behavior (the story of our lives) can be understood in the “here and now” moment. Art therapy uses the client’s own art work as a modality to help the client understand his or her own unique movement in life, his or her own life style pattern. The artwork is a visual extension of the individual, which helps to make more objective that which is subjective. Art pinpoints the private logic of the individual; the hidden goal, the mistaken ideas, the gifts, the values, and the attitude, which one brings to the life tasks. My mantra is: the process of making art is just as important as the product.
What types of interventions do you use?
I consider myself an eclectic therapist, but I utilize many Adlerian techniques. Adler believed that each person strives to belong and feel significant in this life. He believed that many things influenced behavior, such as birth order, lifestyle, beliefs, and was the founder of parental education (I am a certified STEP parenting educator). I like using CBT, mindfulness, and solution focused techniques
Do you specialize in any particular area?
I specialize in working with children, adolescents and women. I work with many LGBTQ clients and those struggling with addiction. I have a strong interest in health, fitness, wellness, & nutrition, and empowering people. As one of very few Board Certified Art Therapists in the State of Indiana, I use art psychotherapy. I believe that the validation for art therapy comes from my clients when they tell me how, through their own creative process, they have improved the quality of their lives. By coming to a deeper understanding of the unconscious attitudes they bring to their life through work, relationships, love, spirituality, and understanding the self. I have also been trained in EMDR part 1.
I am educated to supporting those who are experiencing distress related to chronic, acute and terminal medical diagnoses, caregiving, and-of-life hospice, and grief & loss. These highly sensitive topics are some of the most challenging experiences we encounter in life, and I believe that you deserve a combination of both the expertise and empathy to process them and find hope in the next season of your life. These changes affect every area of your health and wellness, and I am committed to supporting you in each one of them. Together, we will not only work on your emotional and mental health, but your sleep, nutrition, medical care and spiritual well being.
What is your philosophy?
I am a holistic practitioner and believe in the mind-body-spirit connection in the process of healing. I believe that making the choice to seek out psychotherapy is an investment in yourself, which is the first step in making healthy changes to live your best life. I believe that therapy should be an open, non-judgmental place to work through the issues in your life you are going through.