About Amanda Parmley

You may not look like someone who is struggling. You show up. You handle life. You take care of others. You probably think a lot about how you impact those around you. You may find yourself constantly overthinking, replaying conversations, critiquing your every little mistake, or taking responsibility for the moods of others.

A lot of my clients show up to therapy because they are exhausted from understanding their patterns but feel powerless over them. They have exceptional insight. They can explain why they are anxious, self-critical, perfectionistic or guarded. However, insight is often not enough to get fully unstuck.

That is where deeper therapy can move the metaphorical needle.

I specialize in EMDR therapy, anxiety, trauma recovery, and self-criticism. My work is especially focused on helping adults process the experiences and beliefs that keep them feeling anxious, not good enough, overly responsible, and stuck.

EMDR Therapist for adults who are tired of being so hard on themselves

Therapy with me is collaborative, thoughtful, and intentional. We will make space for what you are carrying, while also paying attention to patterns that keep repeating. Patterns included but not limited to: the harsh inner-critic, people-pleasing, anxiety, shame, and the feeling of never being good enough no matter how hard you try.

For many clients, this work includes EMDR therapy. EMDR can help process painful past experiences, trauma, and long-standing negative core beliefs, like:

  • I’m not good enough

  • I have to be perfect

  • I’m not safe

  • My worth is dependent on my achievements

  • I’m not safe being fully myself

  • I can’t trust myself

For others, we may focus on anxiety, boundaries, self-esteem, sleep or learning how to tolerate the discomfort and stress-response that arises when confronted with specific stressors, such as: social situations, difficult conversations, setting boundaries, asking for what you need, navigating conflict, or doing things that bring up fear of judgment, rejection, failure, or disappointing someone.

The goal is not to turn you into a different person. The goal is to help you respond to these day-to-day moments with more self-trust, less anxiety, and greater peace with yourself.

My Approach to therapy:

Plants in decorative vases on shelves in front of a white wall

You might be in the right place if:

  • You are tired of being your own worst critic

  • You overthink conversations long after they are over

  • You feel responsible for everyone else’s emotions

  • You feel deeply wounded by any criticism, including constructive criticism

  • You struggle to rest without guilt

  • You are insightful and know your patterns, but can not seem to break free from them

  • You want therapy that goes deeper than coping skills

  • You are curious about EMDR for anxiety, trauma, or self-criticism

  • You want to feel more confident, present, and at home with yourself

Free Consult Call
A woman with red hair, smiling, sitting outdoors in front of green bushes, wearing a green top and blue jeans.

Am I the right therapist for you? 

I get it. If proving your worth was possible, you’d have proved it by now.  You’ve tried time and time again to reason with yourself but can’t seem to convince yourself that you’re as worthy as everyone else. You’ve tried affirmations, reading self-help books & therapy in the past but nothing seems to have stuck. 
I’ve been in your shoes and I know how it feels to be held hostage by negative beliefs & people pleasing tendencies. Anxiety can feel like it’s nonstop. There is only so much any one person can do.
As a therapist, I can help. I have over 10 years of experience working as a counselor. Although not the only modality I offer,  I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) and specialize in working with clients who struggle with anxiety, trauma and low self-esteem. As both a therapist and client myself, I can attest to how life-changing EMDR can be, especially if you’ve tried other types of psychotherapy without success. 
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specializing in therapy for:

Anxiety
PTSD & Trauma
Perfectionism
Insomnia

Education & Notable Modalities:

I currently hold a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Campbell University (2014) and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Campbell University (2010). Since 2014, I have worked in outpatient mental health and am currently licensed as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina with approximately 10 years of postgraduate experience in the counseling field.

As published in Medium:

Mindset Matters: Amanda Parmley On How To Build Stress Resilience with a Positive Mindset
Solving Insomnia: Amanda Parmley On 5 Proven Strategies to Help You Sleep Through the Night

Ready to feel better?

Schedule a free consult