About Emergence Health & Wellness for Men

Growing up at a boarding school my parents worked at in New York State, I was surrounded by kids who at some point were the same age as me from all over the world. These students came to this small community with a multitude of cultural backgrounds, family situations and past experiences that impact their academic career and social life. I always wanted to obtain my master’s degree in Social Work as my mother did. Social Work was always the logical career path for me as I grew up watching my mother guide and support her students in her role as the guidance counselor. I always knew I wanted my career to be doing something that made a difference. I also come from a big extended family and have always been surrounded by kids. Working with children throughout my career only seemed natural to me.

After graduating from Marist College in my hometown in 2012 with my Bachelor’s degree in history (I like history and I had to choose something). I then moved to the Boston area for graduate school at Wheelock College (now Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development). The school’s founder, Lucy Wheelock, has been quoted as saying, “You have learned that membership in any society means to do something there.” This felt like a good fit given my desire to make a difference around me. In 2014, I graduated with my Master’s degree in Social Work. My field work consisted of working with kids and adolescents in the foster care system supporting them as they navigated school and family challenges and also interning at a preschool in Malden, MA teaching the students about their emotional needs. At this placement, I became proficient in the Zones of Regulation curriculum which is designed to teach and promote emotional identification and regulation. Upon graduation, I began my career at South Bay Community Services where I provided in-home therapy services to clients in the surrounding area. Here, I gained first-hand knowledge and experience on the daily activities of my clients.  I also acquired experience working with clients through their addiction and recovery journey. I observed how they navigate the world around them, interact with their families, and how the world impacts them. 

In 2019, a move to the South Shore for my family brought me the opportunity to learn about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and to work in outpatient therapy. This experience brought me into the lives of my clients in a different way as I support them in navigating life stressors, interpersonal relationships, and also celebrating their successes and achievements. I also eventually gained experience as the Site Director at an outpatient therapy office for 2 years where I supervised and guided clinicians along their work with their individual clients. I was able to bring my love of lists and color-coding skills to the therapy work of my clinicians. 

I look forward to the opportunity to support you in navigating life!
-Amanda