Amy Bates

(MA, LPCC, ATR-BC)

About Me

I am an Art Therapist and Counselor experienced in working with individuals and families in a community mental health agency and private practice. I am also an adjunct professor teaching graduate level Art Therapy and Counseling.

I am currently licensed in North Carolina and New Mexico as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Nationally Board Certified, Registered Art Therapist.

From a holistic perspective, I honor your unique life journey while helping you find deeper meaning and greater balance in your life. I utilize traditional solution focused, evidence-based practices with a warm, positive, strength-based approach. While teaching practical skills for managing your immediate symptoms, I integrate the creative process, mindfulness and somatic-awareness to support you and help you gain insight and guide you toward the life you want to live.

I can help you clarify your goals, build on your strengths, recognize your obstacles, and find practical solutions for moving toward greater peace and happiness.

I look forward to joining you on this journey.

Specialties

  • Stress, Anxiety
  • Relationship issues
  • Intimacy-related issues
  • Self esteem
  • Coping with life changes
Also experienced in:
Addictions , Family conflicts , Trauma and abuse , Grief , Eating disorders , Sleeping disorders , Parenting issues , Depression , Compassion fatigue , ADHD , Codependency , Communication Problems , Emptiness , Family of Origin Issues , Read more...

Clinical approaches:
Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy

Years of Experience: 5

Services Offered


  • Messaging

  • Live Chat

  • Phone

  • Video

Licensing

LPCC #CCMH0188671 (Expires: 2022-09-30)

Reviews

Written by E.R. on Sep 23, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and self esteem

She is very great and understanding

Written by A.S. on Sep 23, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and self esteem

It feels like I’m talking to a friend who understands me more than anyone! Amy has been incredibly helpful in working through difficulties and creating a more positive mindset.

Written by L.I. on Sep 22, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Amy is kind, courteous and extremely gracious. She listens with an open mind and heart, and quietly guides the way toward inner reflection through a variety of therapeutic exercises.

Written by H.O. on Sep 14, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and trauma and abuse

I love Amy and her thoughtfulness. I know that she is ready to listen to any concerns I have which makes me feel open to sharing more about myself than I would with any other counselor.

Written by J.O. on Sep 09, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, and anger management

I’ve been talking with her off and on for a about a month now and I can say she honestly had a lot of answers for me in ways I never knew were so simple I’ve been feeling better with my anger it’s really toned down a lot and is getting better and also the verbal exercise she tells me to try out have been helping as well. She’s awesome!

Written by B.R. on Aug 15, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, sleeping disorders, and self esteem

Amy is wonderful. She is helping me to see myself in a different way and allows me to be myself with all of my imperfections. She is beyond Knowledgeable and gives me exercises that are easy but at the same time challenging which I need. So I'm thankful for being able to communicate with her and feel understood and heard

Written by D.E. on Jun 24, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, and coping with life changes

Amy is amazing and really understands me and listens

Written by S.H. on Jun 09, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, self esteem, and adhd

I’ve been in counseling since I was young and Amy is by far the best I’ve had. She is exactly everything I want. She’s great.

Written by A.N. on Jun 01, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coaching, and adhd

Ms. Bates has helped me to look at things differently and to be more positive in my thoughts.. positive statements to keep telling myself. I really appreciate it.

Written by L.I. on May 26, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes

I have greatly enjoyed my experience with Amy Bates. She is a wonderfully gentle nudge in the direction of my heart's desires; supportively acknowledging my personal goals and needs.
I've had sessions with work-sponsored/in-person EAP counselors at other moments of challenge in life, but I have to say that Amy Bates has far exceeded even the best experience with those in her field.
I feel supported, respected, and encouraged - three reasons that I feel many individuals turn to therapy/counseling.
I highly recommend Amy! Especially to those who are already on a set direction in life but require a little outside encouragement along the way or as they're working through a challenge in life.

Written by S.H. on Apr 28, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and self esteem

Ms. Bates is Awesome. She's helped me realize that my depression takes time and that I won't be feeling helpless forever. She's here when I need her and she responds back to everything I write to her. I enjoy the worksheets she sends.

Written by R.A. on Mar 18, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and parenting issues

Amy Bates is an open, communicative, and empathetic counselor. I feel like her personal and professional approach is effective in meeting my needs.

Written by S.A. on Mar 17, 2020 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, coping with life changes, and adhd

This app is greatly impacting my life, i have help whenever it's needed. And I couldn't feel more safe and listened to

Written by J.E. on Dec 13, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 months on issues concerning relationship issues

Amy Bates listens very actively to me and helps me piece together what I'm feeling into something that is very actionable. During my time with her, she has given me a toolkit for communicating my needs and has reminded me to be nice to myself!

Written by N.I. on Dec 07, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem

I love the program with Amy.

Written by B.O. on Nov 01, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks

Amy has made me feel completely comfortable to share my deepest emotions. While this platform for counseling is new to me, it’s nice knowing I can share my thoughts anytime I want and have a supportive ear on the other end.

Written by J.A. on Aug 09, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, and adhd

Thank you so much for all your advice and help Amy. It has been invaluable and inspirational. Amy looks past all the muck and gets to the heart of the issue and makes you feel safe enough to talk about the “real” issue. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone.

Written by A.L. on Aug 07, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 months

Amy is wonderful. She is responsive, understanding, and supportive. Our conversations have been very helpful, very quickly. As an artist, I love the art therapy that she uses, and have found it to be particularly useful for reflecting and articulating things I’ve been dealing with. I would highly recommend Amy!

Written by K.A. on Jul 27, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, and adhd

She listens to me and gives me different things to consider about any current problems I am facing. I'm grateful that she is helping me.

Written by M.E. on Jul 25, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, and self esteem

This has been a powerfully helpful experience for me in a time when I truly needed it. As a busy working mom, it’s hard to carve out time for myself. To have a trained counselor to bounce off of my schedule has been amazing. It’s giving me confidence and clarity in my own thinking.

Written by E.L. on Jul 16, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and adhd

Amy Bates is very responsive and is always coming up with new ideas to have me try to get to a better me.

Written by F.R. on Jul 01, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, and eating disorders

I connected with Amy a couple of weeks ago. She is very responsive and attentive to what I say in our email communication. I appreciate that she understands the stage of life I find myself in and is helping me to better articulate and act upon ways to de-stress. As our counseling relationship continues, I see avenues where Amy will be extremely beneficial to my overall wellbeing.

Written by H.O. on Jun 19, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and adhd

Everything is good so far.

Written by L.I. on May 28, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and self esteem

Amy and I connected almost immediately and I always look forward to our conversations. She helped me through one of my darkest hours and continues to build me up. It’s a joy to work with her and I would recommend her to anyone.

Written by A.U. on May 07, 2019 after counseling with Amy for 6 days on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and coping with life changes

Amy is very polite and attentive. Her approach makes counselling less daunting and I’ve found her sessions have given me motivation.