Posted by For the next few Fridays, we will be introducing the counselors at Heritage Counseling Center to help you know the faces behind this blog.
Today, I would like to introduce you to Amanda Paben, MA, LPC. Amanda has been part of the Heritage family since 2014.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Sheldon, Iowa –way up in the northwest corner. Think rural, small town living.
What made you decide to become a counselor?
My mom is a teacher. From a young age, pretty much everyone I knew thought that I would be a teacher, too. I saw a lot behind the scenes of teaching and decided I wasn’t sure that it was for me. My mom had a student attending play therapy, so she helped coordinate a visit with that counselor so that I could learn more about the field. I was hooked after that visit!
Counseling has an aspect of teaching in it, and I love getting to teach kids coping skills or new ways to think. I also love the one-on-one aspect of it and the opportunities it provides to make a difference in this world.
Looking back, I am sure that I would have benefitted from counseling as a child to work on anxiety, so another part of the reason that I am a counselor is to give kids the opportunity to learn how to manage their anxiety differently than what I did from a young age.
What are your specialty areas in counseling or some of your favorite things to help people address in counseling?
I specialize in the treatment of children and adolescents. I have a long list of things that I enjoy addressing in the office but if I have to pick my top three, it would be anxiety, depression/self-harm (especially in adolescents), and self-esteem problems. Some of my most favorite sessions include getting to talk about how the Gospel gives us a new identity and also provides hope in the darkest moments.
What is your current favorite Bible verse?
I struggled to pick just one! Scripture is filled with so much truth that my favorite verse seems to change off and on. Lately, the words of Psalm 34:5-10 have been in my head and on my heart.
“Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
Psalm 34:5-10, ESV
What do you like to do when you are not counseling?
I love to spend time with my husband and son. They make me laugh often. Lately, going on walks with them is one of my favorite things. I enjoy drinking coffee and reading. I am also passionate about hand lettering. I love to use my hand lettering to focus on Scripture.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Amanda, please contact our office or submit an inquiry here.
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