Amanda Halawa-Mahdi, LCSW - Therapist in Illinois

About Amanda

Amanda Halawa-Mahdi is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with 23 years of experience. She focuses on family and parenting concerns as well as stress, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. She aims to create a practical, strength-based space where parents and caregivers can talk through immediate problems and plan realistic next steps.

Amanda combines counseling and coaching methods to help people build confidence and clear goals. She uses straightforward techniques to address communication problems, workplace stress, and caregiver fatigue.

Background and approach

Sessions often focus on small, usable changes that fit into busy family life. Her background includes professional coach training from the Co-Active Training Institute. That training supports work on values, leadership, and decision making alongside therapeutic goals.

Amanda also brings long experience with trauma, motivation, and behavior change strategies. She pays attention to issues like body image, guilt and shame, isolation, and life purpose while working to reduce symptoms of mood disorders. Amanda integrates psychodynamic ideas about past patterns with practical tools from cognitive behavioral work and solution-focused techniques.

Amanda values diversity, equity, and inclusion and actively addresses biases that affect family relationships. She encourages clients to recognize their strengths and take gradual steps toward a more balanced life. Her approach is collaborative and goal-oriented, aimed at helping families find clearer routines and calmer interactions.

Approach-focused online support for families and parents

Amanda commonly draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing in online work. Client-centered therapy centers sessions on the person’s goals and priorities and helps parents feel heard while exploring options. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches practical skills to change patterns and reduce anxiety or low mood.

Motivational interviewing helps when change feels difficult by exploring ambivalence and strengthening motivation. These approaches can help with communication, confidence, caregiver stress, and setting family routines. Amanda discusses options with each person and together they decide which tools to try first, making the plan fit the family’s real life.

Online sessions use video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy flexible. Video and phone allow face-to-face conversation, while chat and messaging can support shorter check-ins or written reflections. This mix helps parents fit consistent support into busy schedules and keeps work moving between meetings.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Amanda help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, family concerns, low self-esteem, depression, and coaching for life or work goals. Additional areas include body image, caregiver stress, communication problems, and workplace issues.

How would she describe her therapeutic style?

Amanda uses a blend of client-centered support, cognitive behavioral tools, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies. Sessions tend to be collaborative and focused on practical steps you can try between visits.

What experience does she bring to sessions?

She has 23 years of professional experience and has worked extensively with trauma, motivation, and behavior change. She also trained as a Professional Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute.

What credentials and location apply to her practice?

She holds an LCSW credential - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - licensed in Illinois with license number IL LCSW 149010179.

Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

Which session formats are available for online work?

Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options allow for different rhythms of support depending on family needs.

How are costs handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Specific pricing depends on the subscription plan selected.

What steps are involved in getting started?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Family conflicts
Self esteem

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 23 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English

Next step

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