Amanda Whichard is a Gulf Coast native whose story has carried her from Texas to San Francisco to 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.

Raised in a Christian home and educated in private Christian schools from preschool through high school, Amanda grew up connected to the Christian lifestyle. But like many, she experienced disappointment and hurt within the Church, leading her to step away for several years as she navigated questions, doubts, and unmet expectations.

In 2010, while living in San Francisco and facing panic attacks, depression, and deep personal struggles, Amanda encountered God in a profoundly personal way—one that wasn’t tied to pressure or performance, but to comfort, presence, and grace. This season reshaped everything. Faith became something she chose for herself, and she has continued studying scripture and nurturing her relationship with God ever since. Over time, she also completed specialized training with Kevin Huggins, author of Friendship Counseling, where she learned how to ethically and thoughtfully integrate biblical principles into clinical therapy for clients who desire it.

Before becoming a therapist, Amanda earned her BBA in Marketing and spent more than a decade in digital marketing and the consumer packaged goods (CPG) world. Her career began in San Francisco, where she worked in digital advertising for national brands, and later continued in Franklin, Tennessee, working in eCommerce at Mars Petcare. Though successful, the corporate world eventually felt misaligned with her values. Amanda felt called to work that created meaningful change—work that helped people heal, breathe deeper, and feel less alone.

That calling drew her back to her birthplace of Gulfport, Mississippi. She 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.

Ultimately, the Gulf Coast called her home once again. Choosing to be closer to family and the slower rhythm of coastal life, Amanda returned to Gulfport to open Sandpiper Counseling—a space grounded in calm, compassion, and steady support. Outside the therapy room, you’ll often find her photographing the beauty of the coastline, spending time outdoors, or exploring the places that continue to remind her of resilience and renewal.

Amanda brings gentle presence, clinical expertise, and a grounded faith perspective to her work. Whether you want to integrate Christianity into therapy or prefer a completely secular approach, Amanda offers a safe, welcoming space for you to heal, grow, and reconnect with the most authentic version of yourself.