Lia Amakawa, PhD

She/Her

DrAmakawa@gmail.com

929.500.1577

Works with teens, families & adults; available for therapist EMDR consultation

I am an elementary school teacher turned clinical psychologist. My pursuit of comprehensive and expedited healing has brought me to schools (The Rebecca School, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s therapeutic high school), hospitals (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Bronx Lebanon), clinics (Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Child and Family Institute, Fort Hamilton’s adult outpatient division) and private practices (Behavior Therapy of NY, Rennicke & Associates) throughout NYC.

For over 15 years, I have been a collaborator in profound transformations. I believe that everyone has the innate ability to heal given an environment that is safe, accepting, and truly affirming. From this environment, therapist and client can work together to make changes, exceed limitations and deepen connections to self and others. Therapy shifts from a focus on alleviating what’s been going wrong to exploring and expanding the capacity for resilience, health and wholeness. I will continue to be thoroughly moved by this transformational process and am devoted to ensuring my clients feel seen, cared for and accompanied throughout.


Education & Training

EMDR certified therapist and consultant-in-training, EMDRIA

AF-EMDR certified therapist, Parnell Institute

Internal Family Systems (IFS), Professional Education Systems Institute

Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP), Fluence

Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Silberman School of Social Work

Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), AEDP Institute

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for adolescents, Child and Family Institute

Theraplay®, Theraplay® Institute

PhD in Clinical Psychology, Fordham University

BA in Studio Art & English, Williams College

Service

EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program, NYC chapter, provider

EMDRIA’s Racial Equity Support Initiative, consultant-in-training

Healing TREE (Trauma Resources Education & Entertainment), advisor