Amy is incredible. She always lets me start with whatever my primary concern is and she always listens.
Ph.D. Dr. Amy Van Buren
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
Mental health conditions are real, common and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
Dr. Amy Van Buren is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
More about me
Licensing: Ph.D. Years in Practice: 8 State: Connecticut
One of my favorite opening lines is from the spiritual classic, The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck. It reads, simply, "Life is difficult."
Somehow, most of us expect that it won't be. Or that if it is, we should be able to handle it effortlessly. We criticize ourselves for feeling very human things like loneliness, confusion, anxiety, anger, boredom and depression when things don’t go the way we hoped. Unfortunately, life does not come with a user's manual for how to work with the hard stuff. And yet these very difficulties, the roadblocks at which we find ourselves, are often opportunities in disguise.
I see counseling as an opportunity. First and most important, it is a chance to be heard. Things often begin to shift when we can share our inner thoughts and feelings with someone who is really paying attention. I have worked with many people who come up with their own answers when they are able to hear their deepest selves, sometimes for the first time.
Counseling is also a chance to learn new life skills. If I had name what I think the most important life skill is, it would be this: psychological flexibility. This means the ability to respond flexibly to yourself, to others and to life. How to get there? By working bit by bit on the following: articulating what matters most to you in life; developing the behaviors that will move you in that direction; handling stumbling blocks along the way; and learning how to respond skillfully to difficult thoughts and feelings that are part of being human.
I have a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The psychological approaches that best inform the way I work are: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Human Givens Approach to Emotional Health and Clear Thinking, and Attachment Theory. The following people have greatly influenced my thinking: Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Russ Harris, Karen Horney, Rick Hanson, Mark Tyrell, Milton Erickson, Michael Yapko, Peter Levine, and Pat Ogden. In addition, I am a Registered Yoga Teacher, as well as a Licensed Clinical Massage Therapist. This means I bring a mind-body approach to counseling, including, if you are interested, instruction in basic calming yoga poses and breathing exercises.
If this resonates with you, or you are curious to know more, feel free to contact me at any time!
About online counseling
Online counseling allows you to receive care from an online mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Try online counseling with Dr. Amy Van Buren
Chat now- Issues
- Stress Anxiety Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes Addictions Relationship issues Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Parenting issues Anger management Compassion fatigue ADHD
- Languages Spoken
- English
Services offered
Professional, discreet, and judgment-free
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation.
Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.