Clinical Director & Founder, Clinic Altera

Introduction

I am a trauma-informed social worker and psychotherapist licensed in both Quebec and Ontario, as well as an advocate, teacher, partner, mother, and friend. These identities shape how I approach my work and the way I lead Clinic Altera. As Clinical Director, I guide a collective of clinicians in Montreal and virtually who are dedicated to relational, evidence-informed, and compassionate care. The personal and professional are never separate for me; the same qualities I bring to family, friendship, and advocacy are the ones I bring to my clients, colleagues, and community.

I believe that suffering is part of being human, a natural response to the complexities of life. Discomfort can lead us toward clarity, resilience, and growth. But when suffering exceeds our capacity, it can become immobilizing. In those moments, people don’t need fixing; they need presence, curiosity, and connection. My role is to be both a collaborative partner and a gentle witness in that space.

My Early Career

I began my career in 2012, working in campus sexual violence advocacy, intervention, and education — work that changed the course of my life. In those early years, I learned that collaboration and genuine connection could help people feel safe even in acute stress states and during objectively challenging seasons of their lives. That understanding has guided me ever since.

My Clinical Practice

Today, as a licensed psychotherapist and social worker, I continue to build on those foundations. My practice is rooted in relational, trauma-informed psychotherapy, integrating psychodynamic, somatic, and parts-based approaches to support meaningful and lasting change. I also draw on tools such as Brainspotting and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to support nervous-system regulation, trauma processing, and deeper integration.

Beyond one-on-one therapy, I design psychotherapy intensives, deep and focused sessions over several days, followed by structured integration, for those seeking accelerated change. I also offer leadership and performance coaching, helping professionals cultivate emotional agility, clarity, and strategic resilience in complex environments.

My Training & Education

I hold an MSW from the University of Central Florida (2014) and have undertaken advanced clinical training in Intensive Short Term Pscyhodynamic Therapy, Internal-Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy and somatic therapies such as Brainspotting, EMDR and even Yoga (YTT-200).

My work has also been shaped by contributions in higher education and leadership at institutions like McGill Medical School and Harvard Medical School, where I specialized in physician wellness, education, and medical leadership. I also worked in campus violence prevention and response at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Central Florida, where I served as both a Victims Advocate and later a professor and mentor in the LEAD Scholars academy, a leadership development program.

Currently, I supervise master ’s-level clinical interns in partnership with two Canadian universities. I am also an approved psychotherapist with Game Plan, where I support the mental health and performance optimization of Team Canada athletes.

Licenses & Credentials

• Licensed Psychotherapist (Ordre des psychologues du Québec- OPQ)

• Licensed Social Worker (Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec – OTSTCFQ)

• Registered Social Worker (Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers - OCSWSSW)

Advanced Trainings

• Three-Year Core Training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Provider

• Brainspotting, Level 1 (Level 2, October 2025)

• EMDR Level 1 + 2

• Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1

• Clinical Supervision:

  • Essential Skills and Ethical Strategies in Clinical Supervision

  • Multiculturalism, Intersectionality, and Identity in Clinical Supervision

  • Group Supervision Success: The Ultimate Guide for Ethical, Effective, and Supportive Group Leadership

  • Trauma-Informed Approaches in Clinical Supervision

  • The Ultimate Supervision Toolkit: Practical Tools for Every Step of the Supervisory Journey

  • Telehealth: Legal & Ethical Implications for Mental Health Professionals

  • Boundaries and Dual Relationships in Clinical Practice: Ethical and Risk Management Challenges

• EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) Couples Therapy Training and Supervision

• IFS (Internal Family Systems) Trauma Foundations Training

• Essentials of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - Beck Institute

• CBT for Depression - Beck Institute

• Crisis Intervention and Response Training - CTRI

• 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (Down Under School of Yoga, Boston)

• Applied Coaching Psychology (PSYC E-1771), Harvard Extension School

These experiences and trainings have shaped my specialty in working at the cross-section of trauma, high performers’ perfectionism and burnout, as well as questions of identity and belonging.

My Vision for Clinic Altera

Clinic Altera isn’t just a practice; it’s a clinic with purpose. Our work is grounded in relational, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive values. Integrating somatic psychotherapy, psychodynamic theory, humanistic and relational approaches, and strategic coaching, we can serve children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families navigating burnout, identity, perfectionism, and recovery from complex trauma.

The inspiration for Clinic Altera also comes from my own journey. Powerful mentorship, therapeutic supervision, and high-value training were pivotal in my clinical development and in supporting my sense of safety and security as I built my career and personal life. Those relationships taught me that clinicians, like clients, need strong containers of support to grow and thrive. They inspired me to create a collective grounded in the same values — one that offers both high-quality care for clients and a supportive, collaborative environment for clinicians

Through supervision, consultation, and collaboration, we don’t just offer services — we nurture a growing clinical community rooted in curiosity, depth, and accountability. Leadership and mentorship are central to this vision: I am committed to supporting clinicians in developing their confidence, competence, and professional identity, while also creating a culture where collective wisdom and co-regulation can thrive.

Building Clinic Altera has long been a dream of mine, and I feel deeply honoured to be here now — leading a clinic that reflects the values I hold most dear.

Whether you're seeking personal support, clinical supervision, or opportunities to deepen your professional impact, Clinic Altera offers a space for meaningful, transformational work grounded in both compassion and excellence.

Amanda