Amanda Halawa-Mahdi

Amanda Halawa-Mahdi is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with 23 years of professional experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and workplace strain. She also supports those worried about body image, caregiver stress, and finding life purpose. Her style combines practical coaching with therapy to help clients move toward clearer decisions and greater confidence.

Her work blends client-centered listening with focused techniques aimed at change. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and build new habits. Motivational Interviewing is part of how she helps people find inner motivation to act. She also draws on psychodynamic and solution-focused ideas when those fit the situation.

Amanda has a background working with teens and families in the juvenile justice system, with experience in behavior change strategies for a wide range of challenges. She is trained as a Professional Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and brings leadership coaching skills into therapy when helpful. She also pays attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion and works to address bias in her practice.

In sessions she treats clients as the experts of their own stories and looks for existing strengths to build on. Her approach is collaborative and goal-oriented, with an emphasis on practical steps that fit day-to-day life. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

How Amanda’s Approaches Work Online

Amanda commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening deeply, reflecting what matters to the client, and building a trusting working relationship. It helps people feel heard and clarify their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete strategies to change unhelpful patterns and manage mood or anxiety.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Amanda collaborates with clients to decide what techniques to try based on their goals, preferences, and the challenges they bring. She adapts methods over time so the work stays relevant and practical.

Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and allow for flexible scheduling around work or caregiving. Many people find that meeting remotely still supports meaningful progress when the therapist and client agree on clear goals and regular follow-up.