Amanda Nicholson
I’m Dr. Amanda Nicholson, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with advanced training in sex therapy. I hold a Master’s in Family Therapy and a Doctorate in Human Sexuality Studies, and for over seven years I’ve supported individuals and couples navigating anxiety, relationship stress, intimacy concerns, trauma, and life transitions. I work particularly with Black women of faith who are reclaiming their sexual self-esteem and learning to integrate spirituality, identity, and intimacy with confidence and compassion. I also support high-achieving women who feel overwhelmed beneath the surface and are seeking deeper alignment in their relationships and personal growth. My approach is warm, relational, and collaborative, integrating trauma-informed, narrative, and systems-based perspectives with space for conversations about faith when meaningful to you. Therapy with me is a space for honest reflection and sustainable change.
I work particularly with Black women of faith who are reclaiming their sexual self-esteem and learning to integrate spirituality, identity, and intimacy with confidence and compassion.
First session
In our first session, I’m focused on getting to know you, not just the concern that brought you in, but who you are more broadly. I’ll invite you to share what’s been weighing on you and what you’re hoping might feel different in your life or relationships. There’s no pressure to have everything clearly defined. The first session is about creating comfort, understanding your goals at a pace that feels right, and making sure this feels like a good fit for you.
Strengths
What stands out about my approach is the balance of depth and practicality. I help clients not only understand their patterns, but also shift how they show up in their relationships and daily lives. My work is warm, collaborative, and honest, creating space for both reflection and meaningful change, especially in the areas of identity, intimacy, and connection.
Ideal clients
I primarily work with women, including Black women of faith, who are navigating relationships, identity, and intimacy. Many of my clients are high-functioning and self-aware, but are ready to move beyond patterns that no longer serve them and build deeper, more fulfilling connections. I also support individuals and couples across diverse identities who are open to growth and meaningful change.
Origin story
What inspired me to become a therapist was a self-published book I read in high school, written by a psychologist about her work with a client who had experienced significant childhood trauma. From that point on, I knew therapy was the work I wanted to do, even though the type of therapist I wanted to become evolved over the years. My decision to become a Marriage and Family Therapist was shaped by the lasting, positive marriages and family relationships I saw around me, particularly within my community. I remember thinking that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience healthy, fulfilling relationships, and I wanted to help individuals, couples, and families build them when additional support was needed. My specialization in Sex Therapy grew from my desire to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community and my interest in understanding how religion and culture shape our beliefs about sexuality. That interest became especially meaningful in my work with women, particularly Black women, as they navigate the intersections of sexuality, identity, faith, and relationships. Even after all these years, one of my favorite moments is seeing a client’s eyes light up when something finally connects for them. Those moments continue to remind me that I chose the right path.
Ongoing work together
Our ongoing work will focus on building insight and turning that insight into meaningful change outside of the therapy room. Together, we’ll identify patterns, explore what may be keeping you stuck, and develop practical ways to approach your relationships, experiences, and choices differently. Progress may look like having conversations you once avoided, setting and maintaining healthier boundaries, responding differently to familiar triggers, feeling more confident in your decisions, or experiencing greater connection with yourself and others. We’ll regularly reflect on what is changing, what still needs attention, and whether our work continues to align with the goals that brought you to therapy.
Treatment methods
Narrative
I use a narrative approach to help clients explore the stories they’ve internalized about themselves and their lives, and gently reframe them in ways that feel more empowering, aligned, and true to who they are becoming.
Sex Therapy
My work in sex therapy focuses on creating a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore intimacy, desire, and sexual well-being, helping clients build confidence, communication, and connection with themselves and their partners.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients recognize and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, explore new perspectives, and understand how past experiences may shape present-day thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I use TF-CBT to help clients process traumatic experiences, understand how trauma impacts their thoughts and emotions, and develop healthier ways of coping and responding.
Supportive
I use supportive therapy to provide a warm, affirming space where clients can process difficult experiences, feel heard and understood, and strengthen their ability to navigate life’s challenges.
Location
Virtual sessions