Meet Amy

Amy Ives is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Idaho. 

Undergrad and Graduate School: She graduated from the American Military University with a B.A. in Sociology and Liberty University with a M.A. in Counseling, with a specialty of Marriage and Family Therapy. 

Amy is unique in the counseling field as she one of the few counselors who was part of a dual endorser university  education, meaning that during her graduate education, she fulfilled all the courses necessary for both Individual Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy licensure. This is unique because most Counselors acquire their education for one or the other, then take a continuing education course at some point if they want to offer something other than what they studied. These courses often are short and lack the full education necessary for licensure in that field. As a general rule, most Counselors/Therapist do not study both in Graduate School. Amy did and during her training and throughout her career has offered both.

Amy's work is characterized by her sense of humor, kindness, compassion, straight talk, and patience. She has worked in some of the hardest fields in Counseling (in military issues, medical trauma, grief counseling, rape, molestation, depression, life transitions, cancer, hospice, and anxiety), with an ease, kindness, and humor that is helpful to clients. She is not a Counselor who you will be able to see without ever laughing or expressing yourself. She could care less if you cuss or wear sweatsuits, she wants you comfortable.

Amy believes in evidenced based techniques and a Biological-Psychological-Social-Spiritual approach to wellness. She tailors treatment to the situation and the client or clients. She believes in care that is holistic (whole person, whole couples,  and whole family care) and works hard to empower clients. She enjoys her job and people. 

Amy strives to create a therapeutic environment that enables clients to feel safe enough to disclose what they deem necessary and let go of pain. She respects client readiness and will willingly wait until you are ready and have developed enough trust. She doesn't believe in forced vulnerability or the client not having a say in their treatment. She thinks every client should be able to give their therapist feedback to assist in the direction of care.

Walking the dog, exercising, reading, writing, being crafty, gardening, meditation, and listening to other people tell their story.