Today we’d like to introduce you to Amity Olson
Hi Amity, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I became licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin and honed in on helping my patients heal their own trauma in order to move forward.
I became interested in psychotherapy my freshman year of college. During my Intro to Psychology class, I learned I had been living with anxiety as long as I could remember. It was something I was aware of, but didn’t have a name for it because it wasn’t a well-known subject in our family. That being said, we all later recognized it was something the majority of us lived with.
Anywho, continuing in my general classes, I learned how I can not only help myself and others through a career in social work. My first job out of undergrad was as a Probation/Parole Agent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I enjoyed being able to help those I supervised, along with the community, but there were glaring holes in services and support for individuals with a criminal record, although they were expected to participate in those services. To be able to be more effective in this area, I decided to pursue my Master’s degree in social work and immediately began working with programs connecting adult men to community resources to support their transition from prison to the community.
I became licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin and honed in on helping my patients heal their own trauma in order to move forward. For the next 14 years, I worked in various roles to help these men manage their thoughts and feelings, change patterns of behavior, and develop skills to live a prosocial life.
During the pandemic, I burned out in the direction I was going. I recognized I needed to make a shift, which meant my family would need to make a shift. We made a plan and we were quickly able find an option in Jacksonville, Florida that would allow all of us to grow. In July 2021, we moved to Jacksonville and I opened my own practice; working with adults with mood and personality disorders. The pandemic created a framework that allowed for more seamless support via Telehealth and I have been able to consistently provide services while working from home.
Olson Counseling Services has evolved as I have become more comfortable with running a business, but also as I have developed a better sense of what my clients need to heal and what is fulfilling for me. I currently provide EMDR Intensive therapy for adult women healing from emotional neglect; along with helping mothers raising children with food allergies manage their fear and anxiety, as I am one myself. The progress I have seen in my clients in this format has been exponential! After spending months focusing on a target, one to three sessions of an EMDR Intensive has resulted in resolving that target and several others. The relief my clients have experienced and shared has validated I have made the right decision and I’m excited to keep building on this.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No big change is smooth! I think the only smooth part has been the transition to Florida, which, oddly, was the biggest piece.
I did a TON of research related to starting my own practice to make sure I was doing everything legally and ethically. No one close to me had set up their own practice, let alone run a business, so it was a steep learning curve. After three years, I’m just starting to feel comfortable with the processes.
I also had a hard time setting boundaries with my time and my clients. Working from home gave me freedom to really flex how I used my time and I was eager to build my caseload, so I would accommodate whatever schedule my clients needed from me. As you can imagine, I burned out quickly and began to second-guess my decision. Thankfully, I was receiving consultation as I pursued my certification in EMDR. I received great feedback on changes to make in my practice and in my thinking to help me find balance. I have continued to fine tune this as I recognize what my limits are.
We’ve been impressed with Olson Counseling Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Olson Counseling Services opened in August 2021. I provide EMDR Intensive sessions for adult women wanting to heal from emotional neglect. I also specialize in working with mothers raising children with severe food allergies, as I am a mother raising a child with severe food allergies and can relate to the anxiety and fear these women can experience. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a trauma-focused therapy that helps reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming. It uses bilateral stimulation, like eye movements, to help your brain process stuck or painful experiences. This approach can bring relief from trauma, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, often more quickly than traditional talk therapy.
In an EMDR Intensive format, I offer 3- or 5-hour sessions in a set of 3 to 5 sessions in a week or weekend. This approach allows for accelerated progress due to being able to focus on a target for an extended period of time; is efficient for individuals who aren’t able to commit to weekly sessions or want to experience fewer interruptions to their progress; allows for more in-depth processing; is tailored to individual needs; and provides continuity and integration due to the shorter time between sessions.
What sets OCS apart from others is my availability via Telehealth. I am able to better accommodate individuals throughout the state of Florida, not just Jacksonville. I’m also able to provide services to clients in Wisconsin, as I have maintained my licensure there, as well. Being able to remain in the comfort of their home and not having to find more time in their day to account for travel and traffic, helps me better meet my clients where they’re at, literally and figuratively.
I am proud of creating a therapeutic experience that respects my clients’ time and prioritizes meaningful progress, even for those with busy lives or who haven’t found relief in traditional therapy. My practice emphasizes compassion, expertise, and a structured yet relaxed environment where healing can happen.
My current service offerings include up to 20 hours of EMDR Intensive therapy in one week in 3- or 5-hour sessions. For example, a client and I could meet for 3 hours per day for a week or 5 hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in one week. Weekend options are available Friday to Sunday and include 3 hours each day.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
There are so many things that make me happy:
-watching my son develop into a wonderful human being
-working hard for the life that brings me joy and peace
-genealogy: You read that right! I can’t stop learning about others and this is another way for me to scratch that itch. I even started my own business, Amity Linealogy, and LOVE helping people put the puzzle of their family together.
-Disney and Harry Potter because we all need fantasy and frivolity in some manner
-my dogs
-my husband’s support of my goals and dreams
Pricing:
- Pre-Intensive Session: $375
- Workbook: $450
- EMDR Intensive-Weekday: $250/hour
- EMDR Intensive-Weekend: $375/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.olson-counseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olson_counseling_services
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olsoncounselingservices
- Other: https://calendly.com/amity-olson-counseling
