Amanda Ihle, LCSW

Amanda Ihle uses practical, evidence-informed approaches to help people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and addiction. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and she draws on 16 years of clinical experience to guide conversations and build skills. Amanda focuses on clear, doable steps that can fit into a busy life.

Amanda spent the first eight years of her career working in Washington State, providing addiction treatment in juvenile court and offering on-campus services to several school districts. She then moved to Oregon and has spent the last eight years working in a level one trauma emergency room in Portland. That mix of settings shaped her ability to work with intense emotions and fast-moving situations.

In sessions she aims to create an open space where thoughts and feelings can be shared without judgment. She listens for what matters most to each person and helps identify small, concrete actions that lead to change. She also teaches practical strategies for sleep, anger, and stress that people can try between visits.

Amanda uses approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside attachment-focused and client-centered methods. She blends these to match each person’s goals, whether that means addressing relationship patterns, ADHD-related struggles, or substance use concerns.

Her style is direct but warm, and she acknowledges how brave it is to ask for help. People who are juggling caregiving stress, blending families, or coping with loss often find the straightforward focus helpful.

Therapeutic approaches and online options that fit your life

Amanda uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT often includes practical tools like thought records, behavioral experiments, and sleep routines to reduce anxiety and improve mood. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify values and accept difficult feelings while taking meaningful action toward goals.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Amanda will work with each person to choose which methods to try, adjusting based on needs, goals, and what feels most useful. She aims to match technique to the issue - whether that is addiction, trauma-related reactions, relationship patterns, or parenting stress.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video calls are useful for full sessions with face-to-face interaction. Phone sessions can be a lower-bandwidth option or easier to fit into a break at work. Live chat or messaging can support brief check-ins, coaching, or ongoing skill practice between longer sessions. These options help people keep therapy consistent when schedules are busy or travel is required.