- Guilt and shame
- Trauma and abuse
- Communication problems
About Amy
Amy McNerney is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with over 10 years of professional experience. She works with adults who are managing stress, anxiety, relationship strains, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and depression. Amy also focuses on concerns such as body image, communication problems, divorce and separation, forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, panic, and post-traumatic stress.
She keeps sessions straightforward and direct. Amy invites people to say what is on their mind and to notice how feelings show up in the body. She listens for patterns that keep someone stuck and helps name what’s happening without judgment.
Her approach aims to help people take practical steps inside and outside sessions. That can mean trying new ways of speaking with a partner, practicing short skills to reduce panic, or mapping where shame shows up so it becomes easier to notice. Sessions combine talking with simple, repeatable exercises to practice between meetings.
Amy frames the work as a collaborative process. She checks in about what methods feel useful and adjusts as needed. The pace is set by each person’s comfort and goals.
Her practice is grounded in ten years of clinical work in California and her LMFT credential. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session to see how the approach fits them.
Evidence-based approaches and online work
Amy uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on symptoms and behavior. One common approach helps people notice how thoughts and bodily sensations link to anxiety and panic, then practices brief skills to reduce immediate distress and build tolerance for uncomfortable feelings. This method is practical for panic attacks and ongoing anxiety.Another strand of her work targets shame and guilt by identifying the stories people tell about themselves and testing small, real-world experiments to shift those stories. This can include role practice for difficult conversations, or short behavioral steps that show different outcomes than expected.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Amy works collaboratively to identify which techniques fit a person’s needs and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as sessions progress. The focus is on what helps in everyday life, not on forcing a single method.
The original biography does not list specific online session formats. Please confirm which formats are offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a weekly routine, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let someone use phone-only meetings if bandwidth or screen time is an issue.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family conflict, trauma and abuse, and depression. Additional focuses include guilt and shame, body image, panic, and life purpose.
How does she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She helps people name where guilt or shame appears and notices how those feelings affect behavior. Work typically combines talking with exercises to practice different responses between sessions.
What is her background and experience?
She has over 10 years of professional work experience providing clinical services in California. That experience includes work with trauma, depression, and relationship concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and practices in California.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are session fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.