Amanda Herrera, LPC Associate, supervised by Mark Cagle, LPC-S
Online Mental Health Therapist From Dallas, Texas
Do you try to hide your struggles to appear in control?
When you're part of a culture that ignores pain and doesn’t value mental health, therapy can seem pointless or like you're not worth the effort. I’m here to change that by providing a space where women of all backgrounds can freely explore their complex emotions and confidently accept themselves.
If this is your first time seeking professional help, I want you to know how proud I am of you for acknowledging your fears and taking brave steps to reduce the stigma around caring for your mental health.
I'd love to share a little about myself!
Hi there! My name is Amanda Herrera (she/her).
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Texas under the supervision of Mark Cagle, LPC-S.
I am thrilled to have you here!
I’m a Dallas native and identify as Mexican-American.
I feel very grateful to be part of the first generation in my family to graduate from university. I hold many cherished memories from my time in college. However, I also experienced times when I felt culturally out of place and felt perceived as an outsider or “othered.” Balancing my cultural values and professional goals was also challenging. I quietly dealt with stress and anxiety but kept going, putting on a brave face to appear in control to those around me.
I began therapy in my final year of graduate school to explore various aspects of my cultural identity. Therapy provided me with a space to gain clarity and perspective, which are essential for healing. I also discovered that many of my issues came from not fully understanding my cultural identity. Becoming a therapist has been incredibly rewarding because it allows me to help clients find their own voice and sense of purpose.
Now, when I’m not wearing my therapist hat, I spend my free time watching TV shows, reading (audiobooks count, right?), volunteering at church activities, or hanging out with family and friends—usually with a cup of coffee in hand!
Here’s why I became a therapist:
My cultural background has shaped who I am today. I understand the importance of helping my clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves. I became a therapist to support Black and Brown women who want to feel confident in their skin rather than like hollow shells of themselves. Questioning your worth is just part of the challenge; the real difficulty lies in unlearning the harmful beliefs you’ve held onto.
I have a strong appreciation for the core values my culture has instilled in me. However, I acknowledge the shortcomings, like immense pressure on women to support families, which often causes them to sacrifice passions, struggle with identities, and suffer in silence. There’s also the internalized belief that going to therapy can make people see you as crazy—or worse, as weak and ungrateful.
I want to give women the chance to break the cycle of anxiety and look inward to find healing. Every woman deserves to feel appreciated and supported, helping to ease their challenges. It all begins with the selfless decision to seek relief and speak with a professional.
Curious about exploring your cultural identity?
I’d love to offer the support and encouragement you’re looking for.
“What types of women do you work with, Amanda?”
I am passionate about working with women who struggle with constant self-doubt and perfectionism.
For the woman who strives for excellence in her professional and personal life, I’m here to help ease the overwhelming pressure of having to excel in every area of your life.
I have experience working with people from diverse backgrounds. I am especially dedicated to helping women of color navigate their specific challenges and struggles.
In my therapy sessions, I prioritize curiosity and empathy, exploring in depth the rich tapestry of diverse cultures and societal influences.
This approach not only enhances my understanding but also allows me to recognize how these factors uniquely shape my clients’ mental health experiences. By fostering an open dialogue, I aim to create a safe space where clients feel comfortable sharing their stories and perspectives, ultimately leading to more meaningful and effective therapeutic outcomes.
I help my clients navigate intersecting (or overlapping) identities by helping them explore their race, ethnicity, gender, and cultural backgrounds.
By developing a clearer understanding of our identity, we can all become more self-accepting and self-empowered, fostering personal growth.
Learn to celebrate your successes and navigate challenges with self-assuredness, cultivating a healthier relationship with yourself!
“Amanda, can you explain your therapeutic approach?”
Glady! I am a multicultural therapist.
Multicultural counseling is a method therapists use to demonstrate respect for different cultures. It’s not just any type of therapy. This approach recognizes that everyone comes from unique backgrounds, beliefs, values, and social identities. Its purpose is to provide holistic validation and support for clients, exploring avenues that other counseling approaches may overlook.
As a multicultural counselor, I recognize that our roots significantly shape our lives and well-being. By creating a counseling environment that encourages clients to share their true selves, we build a collaborative relationship that addresses issues in a culturally aware way.
Understanding, respecting, and valuing clients’ diverse cultural backgrounds is essential.
As a therapist using this approach, I wholeheartedly support my clients’ rights to equality and inclusivity. I genuinely value how cultural backgrounds shape their life experiences. Clients seeking help from a multicultural counselor can significantly benefit from learning to explore their beliefs deeply and meaningfully.
a·me·lio·rate (verb)
to make a bad or unpleasant situation better
Definition from the Cambridge University Press