Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Aliff.
Hi Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I can remember, helping others has been a part of me. Every year, my entire extended family met for an annual family reunion. When I was between the ages of 4-5 years old, I talked to an older family member about the dangers of smoking and all the reasons he should break his habit. I also recall a time in middle school when my mother reminded me that I needed to focus on myself, as I was always trying to solve all the problems others faced at my middle school. In high school, I earned a Girl Scout Silver Award for assisting in a program that assembled and handed out 150 first-aid kits to homeless individuals and families in my community. I constantly engaged in volunteer activities and graduated high school with over 300 community service hours.
I attended Shippensburg University and earned a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. This program helped me step out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to engage more in classes, complete presentations, and connect to others with similar interests. Throughout my time in the program, I worked at Abraxas, a residential program for juveniles. Once my degree was completed, I became eligible to work as a clinician at the facility, and I was extremely excited to take on this new role. I was then promoted to the position of Clinical Coordinator. Towards the end of my career at Abraxas, I realized continuing to work in that capacity for an agency was stifling my professional development and was putting up roadblocks to achieving my professional goals. I ultimately decided to leave my comfortable, safe job to pursue the unknown world of private practice.
I currently own and run a successful counseling practice in Shippensburg, PA. My company provides outpatient counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults within the community. In 2020, we were awarded a contract with the Shippensburg Area School District to provide on-site school-based counseling services to their students. This was a significant challenge for the district, as they had contracts with six different agencies over the previous six years, and all of these agencies had yet to implement a sustainable counseling program successfully. Instead of following the “school-based model,” I created my model based on what I felt should take precedence.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I first started my private counseling practice in 2014. I met with a few clients; however, the business side was extremely overwhelming. Instead of facing the situation head-on, I stepped back. A few years later, I decided that I would get there no matter what, and the funny thing is that it was far from as bad as I envisioned. It required work and learning, but it was something I was capable of achieving. The lesson learned here is never to allow anything to hold you back from achieving your goals.
Imposter syndrome has been a big struggle along the way. Sometimes, it is a struggle to this day. Sometimes, I question whether I am knowledgeable or “good enough” to run a business or implement specific treatment models. However, I am open to learning and constantly growing personally and professionally. I have a network of other local providers, and we frequently make referrals or help each other with different areas as needed. We all have different strengths and areas in need of growth; being able to support and be supported by other professionals has been immensely helpful, as I have been able to utilize the strengths of others to help continue my professional growth and development.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Outside of my counseling business, I am also an author. My first publication was a set of workbooks designed to help couples work through infidelity. Sometimes, it can be challenging to establish counseling services due to waitlists, personal schedules interfering with counseling appointments, money barriers, insurance issues, etc. This set of workbooks allows couples to begin to process together immediately in the aftermath of an affair. I recently released my first book from my Little Koala Life Skills series collection. The story is about how Little Koala breaks a rule, experiences natural consequences, and the lesson he learns. What sets this series apart from others is the clinical focus that is provided. The book contacts topics for parents to continue conversations and includes specific questions that children can be asked. All the books from this series will deal with a different life skill. We are working on book number two, which is expected to be released this March.
How do you define success?
Success is what you make it. Ultimately, it is establishing a goal (big or small) and taking steps to achieve it. Small successes are just as important as major successes. The small successes ultimately lead to the major successes.
Pricing:
- 11.99 – Little Koala Book available on amazon
- 25.99 – infidelity journal
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandaalifflpc?igsh=cnFpZHo1YndlOXJ1&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aliffcounselingservices?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://a.co/d/cbg2jyh
