Hi, I'm Amy.
A licensed counselor and certified trauma therapist in Pensacola, here to help you carry what's been heavy to carry alone.
Why I do this work
I became a counselor because I kept meeting good, capable people quietly carrying more than anyone realized. The strong friend. The spouse keeping the house running through a deployment. The person who looks fine and is exhausted underneath.
I've sat with people through grief, trauma, and marriages that had gone quiet, and I've watched what changes when someone finally has a steady place to set it down. That's the part of my week I care about most.
How I work
I won't rush you, and I won't ask you to relive more than you're ready for. We go at your pace, and I'll be honest with you the whole way.
I lean on EMDR for trauma, which helps painful memories settle into the past without going over every detail. For couples, I use the Gottman Method, a researched way to get out of the same fight and rebuild trust. Mostly, I bring patience and a place where you don't have to perform.
I grew up in a military family.
My dad served and retired from the Army, so deployment cycles, constant moves, and what coming home can stir up aren't theory to me. I've lived them. It's a big part of why I work so closely with Pensacola's military families.
Faith, only if you want it
For clients who want it, we can pray together and bring Scripture into the room. For clients who don't, that's completely fine. You'll be met with the same care either way. This is your space, and you set the terms.
Credentials. Amy Coates, MS, LMHC. Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Florida (license MH19659). Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II). Certified in EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and also draws on CBT, DBT, the Gottman Method, family systems, and somatic approaches. Experience includes trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, bipolar and mood disorders, divorce and life transitions, self-esteem, veterans, and the strain military life places on families.
Let's see if we're a good fit.
Reaching out is the easiest way to start. No pressure, just a chance to talk.