Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Eshleman.
Hi Amy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been practicing mental health therapy as a Clinical Social Worker for 25 years. I always had the goal of opening a private practice and had the opportunity to do that when I lived in Pennsylvania. I had a private practice for about 8 years before moving to Florida in 2015. After moving to Florida, I wanted to give myself some time to establish connections within this area before opening up a private practice here. I started slowly in developing this while continuing to work a full-time job at an agency. After about 6 years, I felt ready to dive into it more as my full-time schedule. In January of this year, I explored an opportunity to open a group private practice, and after months of planning, coaching, and developing, I opened Coherence Counseling LLC in July.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth ride. Some pieces moved seamlessly, while the aspects of being credentialed to offer services on various platforms were time-consuming and lengthy. No,w with transitioning from a solo practice to a group practice that offers its own set of struggles. In an effort to provide better care to clients, I made the decision to accept only out-of-network benefits or self-pay. This has been a fairly difficult transition, as many people who seek therapy wish to use their in-network benefits.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an LCSW (licensed clinical social worker for Florida and Utah). Many years ago, while working with teens, I decided I wanted to become more equipped to assist clients in dealing with their traumas and the impact it has on them in a variety of ways. This started me on a learning journey where I initially became certified as a CBT-trauma-focused therapist, and then, after using that modality for several years, I continued to experience challenges in helping clients address the body-oriented symptoms of trauma. This led me to search for more learning opportunities, which took me to finding Somatic Experiencing. I decided to train in this modality. This was a big undertaking as the program was 3 years long to complete. I completed it and became a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in 2016.
In terms of my specialities, I am known for assisting people in addressing their traumas from any experience with particularly helping them to regulate their nervous systems so they can function as they would like and not be stuck in the trauma responses.
I feel most proud and grateful when I am working with a client, and while using this modality, I see a shift in them, and they begin to feel differently about what happened to them. It is energizing and encouraging to see someone feel some hope again for themselves and how they are navigating life and relationships.
I believe something that sets me apart is that I bring a sense of warmth and realness to my sessions. I take the work I do very seriously, and I want the best for everyone who comes into my clinic. Along with that, I bring some humor to the session. When we can laugh, even in the dark moments, it provides a sense of “I’m going to be ok.”
What’s next?
My plans are to continue to work on the group practice and grow it. I want to bring in more therapists with varying experience in the trauma treatment world. In the future, I am looking to offer a new program to clients who are interested in enhancing their performance and mental toughness within either the sports world or in other areas of their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coherencecounseling.com
- Facebook: coherence counseling
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyeshleman-a646a9394
Image Credits
credit Isaac Eshleman
