Amalia Collins, MA, LPC, LMFT

Education
1997   Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Fine Arts from The University of Montana
2000   Master’s Degree in Child Marriage and Family Therapy from College of Notre Dame
2000   Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from College of Notre Dame

Licenses and Certifications
            Licensed Professional Counselor
            Registered Art Therapist
            Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Hello, I’m Amalia Collins.  I have worked nationally in the field of counseling with children, adolescents and adults.  My areas of expertise are helping families cope through stressful situations; working with disobedient or misunderstood children and adolescents; and assisting families or couples struggling with lack of cohesion.  Over the past fifteen years I have worked as a teacher, social worker and counselor.  I co-ran The School House preschool in Wilmington, North Carolina while attending graduate school. My practicum training was at Achieve Kids in San Jose, California working as a day treatment counselor in a therapeutic school.  I then moved to FamiliesFirst, a private foster care agency for my internship in Campbell, California working with children and their families. In 2003 I accepted a position as Senior Counselor at St. Joseph Adolescent and Family Services, a division of Catholic Charities in Dallas, Texas where I continue to work with adolescents and their families.

I utilize verbal, Art, Play and Sand Tray Therapies to guide and strengthen families.  Art Therapy gives the client opportunities for reflection, insight, conflict resolution, healing and self discovery.  Art Therapy is beneficial to both children and adults.  I implement Play and Sand Tray Therapy to children struggling through difficult times.  Play is a natural medium for children to easily express their feelings and gain a sense of mastery and understanding of difficult situations.

In addition to art and play therapy, my specialties include teen/adolescent issues, depression, anxiety, marriage counseling, family counseling, short term parenting training, and behavior modification.

I provide a very warm, inviting environment to ensure the freedom of those willing to improve an area of their lives to be better able to express themselves openly and honestly.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice”