EXPERT COLLABORATORS

Awakening Mental Health Provides Public Mental Health Education by Collaborating with Field Experts.

Check Out our Incredible Expert Collaborators Below.

AMANDA SURFACE, LPC ASSOCIATE

Child, Family, and Parenting Expert

Amanda obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of North Texas in 2013. She completed her graduate studies with a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Development from Texas Woman’s University in 2018. During her time at Texas Woman's University, she was part of the TWU Play Project providing Play Therapy to children in local schools free of charge.

She currently works as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in private practice under the supervision of Heather N. Smith, M.Ed. Her areas of focus include women’s issues, anxiety, depression, crisis, addiction, spirituality, trauma, chronic health concerns, adolescent counseling, and Child-Centered Play Therapy. She is actively working toward completing the required hours to obtain her Registered Play Therapist credential. The RPT designation indicates enhanced clinical competency and training in providing play therapy to children.

In her clinical experience, she has had the opportunity to counsel individuals and groups of varying ages. She believes that clients benefit most from a supportive and collaborative approach to therapy. She strives to provide a safe environment in which clients feel free to explore concerns, establish goals, and enhance personal strengths. When working with children, her guiding principle is always to exercise unconditional positive regard. Holding a child in a place of unconditional positive regard enhances feelings of safety, and that emotional safety strengthens the therapeutic relationship. She believes that in working with children, it is not the therapist's role to teach strategies or change the child but to draw out their unique gifts to understand how they experience the world. In the wise words of Jess Lair, “Children are not things to be molded but are people to be unfolded.”

Before beginning her counseling journey, she worked extensively with children and families in schools, community centers, residential treatment centers, and agency settings. She has also worked with children to explore their passion for the arts as a dance teacher and program coordinator.

Outside of the counseling office, Amanda is a wife to her husband of eleven years and a mother to her two daughters, ages (almost) two and nine. She enjoys binge-watching documentaries, drinking excessive amounts of coffee, spending time at bookstores, iPhone photography, and she still loves dancing anytime the opportunity arises!

Amanda is passionate about educating children and families about the role of mental health in wellness. She hopes that through partnering with Awakening Mental Health, she can provide creative solutions for families, offer solidarity to parents, and improve access to resources for children.

CAYLA GENSLER, LPC

Relationship Expert

Cayla completed her BA in psychology at ASU in 2011 and her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Phoenix in 2016. While in high school Cayla took her first psychology class and knew she found her calling. She first became interested in attachment work through personal experience with challenging relationships. She jokingly tells her clients that she is a “pursuer in recovery”. Cayla completed her EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) externship with Sue Johnson and will continue with certification next year. Currently, she sees both individuals and couples to work through attachment injuries, helping them to understand their attachment style and resulting emotions, thinking patterns and behaviors, and to increase their success in relationships. She also facilitates Hold Me Tight ® couples weekend intensives in Phoenix, AZ. As an attachment therapist, Cayla believes that once we create success in our intimate relationships, many other areas in our lives feel more manageable.

Outside of being a therapist, Cayla is an avid Buffalo Bills fan. She is convinced the team will be at the Super Bowl every year. She loves reading both personally and professionally, and is typically juggling multiple books at a time. She currently has two elderly puppies, who get quite a bit of her love and attention. Favorites also include all things that involve cheese, pizza, or 90’s music.

Cayla is a very passionate human being. She loves people and strongly believes that everyone deserves compassion and acceptance. Mental health stigma is an area she is particularly passionate about, both in her professional and personal life. Cayla knows the stigma around mental health prevents people from getting care they need and deserve, and this is troubling for her. Through her contribution to Awakening Mental Heath, she hopes to bring awareness to the struggles people have in relationships and motivate others to get the care to create success in this area of their lives.