About Counseling

Therapy is a place to breathe again. It’s not about judgment, “fixing” you, or labeling what’s “wrong.”

It’s about slowing down enough to really notice your emotions, thoughts, and experiences, so you can begin to make sense of them and feel more grounded.

In our sessions, we’ll talk, reflect, and explore patterns that may be keeping you stuck. Together, we’ll find practical ways to ease anxiety, process pain, and strengthen your ability to cope with life’s challenges.

You can show up unsure, overwhelmed, or in-between. Therapy is where we sort through it together, one honest conversation at a time.

Headshot of a woman with wavy brown hair smiling outdoors, wearing a navy blue top, with a blurred green leafy background.

Amanda Whichard is a Gulf Coast native whose story has carried her to Texas, San Francisco and Tennessee—and ultimately back home to Mississippi, where the shoreline, family, and familiar salt air continue to offer clarity and renewal. Her journey to becoming a therapist is shaped by faith, resilience, personal healing, and a desire to offer others the kind of calm, grounded support she once needed herself.

Amanda earned her graduate degree at William Carey University and began her counseling career serving high-need populations in inpatient and community mental health settings, including Oceans Healthcare and Gulf Coast Mental Health (now Pine Belt Mental Health). She also volunteered at the Women’s Resource Center, offering peer support to women facing crisis and transition.

Throughout her career, Amanda has worked with a wide range of mental health concerns, including trauma, OCD, anxiety, depression, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, grief, dissociation, and life transitions. She is trained in EMDR, iCBT for OCD, and trauma-informed care, allowing her to support clients with effective, evidence-based tools tailored to their unique needs—whether they prefer a secular or faith-integrated approach.

Amanda spent the last four years in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she worked closely with college students, professors, and medical professionals, including physicians and their families. These experiences deepened her understanding of perfectionism, burnout, chronic stress, and the emotional pressures faced by high-achieving individuals.

Outside the therapy room, you’ll often find Amanda photographing the beauty of the coastline, spending time outdoors, or exploring the places that continue to remind her of resilience and renewal.

Meet Amanda

Image of a sand dune or sea oats with a rickety wooden fence on the sand. Blue sky with no clouds and live oaks in the background.

Philosphy

I believe healing happens when we feel seen, safe, and supported.
Therapy is a space to pause, reflect, and rediscover the parts of yourself that are still strong, steady, and whole.

Credentials:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (Mississippi #3280)

  • Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health Service Provider (Tennessee #5462)

  • Trained in EMDR Therapy

  • Specialized in trauma, anxiety, and OCD treatment

  • Offering in-person on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and virtual sessions across Mississippi and Tennessee