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Amanda Halawa-Mahdi

Amanda Halawa-Mahdi

LCSW

Illinois

Change-focused LCSW with coaching background

Continue with Amanda

At a glance

Credentials
LCSW
License
LCSW, Illinois / 149010179
Experience
23 years
Languages
English
Location
Illinois

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Motivation and goals
    • Practical tools
    • Strengths focused

    About Amanda

    Amanda Halawa-Mahdi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 23 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. She brings a calm, direct approach and treats each person as the expert on their own life. Amanda focuses on practical steps that fit into daily life and supports people who want clearer goals or renewed motivation.

    She uses Motivational Interviewing to explore what matters most to a person and to build momentum for change. Amanda also draws on client-centered methods to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques are used when helpful to identify unhelpful thoughts and try small experiments to shift them.

    Her background includes work with behavior change and leadership coaching, including training as a Professional Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute. That coaching experience informs goal-setting, decision-making, and confidence work in sessions. Amanda also brings experience addressing trauma and mood concerns alongside everyday stressors.

    She pays attention to issues like body image, caregiver stress, communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation, and workplace difficulties. Amanda explicitly attends to diversity, equity, and inclusion and works to reduce personal and systemic bias in her practice.

    People who want a collaborative process that combines practical tools and supportive listening may find her style useful. To begin, she helps clients clarify goals and co-create steps that feel manageable and meaningful.

  2. How Amanda Uses Practical Therapies Online

    Amanda commonly uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons for change and build small steps toward goals. This approach is useful for improving motivation, tackling habits, and making decisions that feel right for the person.

    She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening without judgment and helping people feel understood. That work helps when someone needs space to sort feelings, values, or family concerns before choosing next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often woven in to identify unhelpful thought patterns and try small behavior tests. CBT methods can help with anxiety, low mood, and workplace stress.

    Finding the right approach is a shared process. Amanda will talk with each person about their situation, goals, and preferences and then suggest ways to combine methods. Together they set practical goals and pick short efforts the person can try between sessions.

    If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Many people find virtual sessions helpful for maintaining consistency while they work on motivation, mood, and daily coping skills.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepressionCoaching

    Additional focus areas

    Body imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersSelf-loveWorkplace issues

    Therapeutic approaches

    Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    23+ years

    Listed in

    Illinois

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What kinds of concerns does she help with?

    Amanda assists people with stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, family concerns, and coaching for goals. She also addresses body image, caregiver stress, communication problems, guilt and shame, and workplace issues.

    What is her therapeutic style like?

    She blends Motivational Interviewing, client-centered work, and CBT to match the person's needs. Sessions combine listening, goal-setting, and practical exercises to try between meetings.

    How long has she been practicing?

    She has 23 years of professional experience working in mental health and coaching settings. That background includes behavior change work and leadership coaching.

    What credentials and location are listed?

    She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices out of that state.

    Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?

    Sessions are offered in English.

    Are international clients accepted?

    She is not currently accepting international clients.

    How are fees handled?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

    How do I start working with her?

    Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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Amanda Halawa-Mahdi Continue with Amanda