Amanda L. Smith, LCSW

Before you call or write, it might be helpful to know a little more about me and how I work by reviewing a few of the questions I'm frequently asked.

Who are you?
The first thing you should know about me is that I love watching people create amazing and fulfilling lives when they had once felt hopeless and discouraged.

I started out my career in mental health by serving as the executive director of the Pinellas County, Florida affiliate of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). In 2007, I founded Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association—a nonprofit organization dedicated towards providing advocacy, education, and support for persons diagnosed with BPD and their families.

Hope for BPD was created to meet the needs of individuals diagnosed with BPD who are often confused and overwhelmed by navigating therapeutic boarding schools, short-term and long-term residential care, and outpatient treatment options.

Treatment decisions are often met with fear, confusion, and a glimmer of hope for future health and happiness. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for me to hear that therapy and counseling has failed in the past—even to the point where there's an increase in suffering.

May I make an appointment with you for therapy? 
Maybe. Right now I am only accepting new clients for my DBT skills training group for adults and my DBT group for teens age 15-17.

If you live in the Waco area or are a Baylor University student, please email me at amanda@hopeforbpd.com.

What makes a good BPD therapist? 

Do you offer telephone or video therapy for people outside of Texas? 
No. Due to licensing restrictions, all of my therapy clients are residents of Texas or are attending school in Texas. If you are living outside of Texas, I can offer treatment consultation and communications coaching for family members but I cannot act as a therapist in a state where I am not licensed to practice.

Occasionally family members and individuals with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder will travel to Waco to meet with me for consultation. If you are interested in this option please let me know; I'm happy to help with travel recommendations. As a bonus, my office is just a few blocks away from Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Market and about three miles away from Magnolia Table.

Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced fees for therapy or treatment consultation? 
Effective, evidence-based treatment is one of the most important (and life-changing) investments you'll ever make in your emotional, physical, and financial health.

As a matter of fairness to my clients and their families, I prefer to remain consistent with my fees. Therefore, my fees do not vary from person to person.

What is treatment consultation?
Since 2006, I've helped people—individuals diagnosed with BPD and their loved ones—connect with compassionate and evidenced-based care in their own communities.

In working with families and people who are suffering from severe emotional dysregulation, I've found that almost everyone gets a referral from their primary doctor or insurance company, crosses their fingers, and hopes for the best. Unfortunately many people I speak with have spent years in treatment without seeing any improvement or have even noticed an increase in symptoms over time.

I also educate people about effective therapies designed specifically to treat BPD, explain how the recovery process works, let people know what to expect (and not expect) in treatment, and help find creative treatment options when funding or location provide an extra obstacle in accessing care.

You can make a consultation appointment with me by clicking here.

Do you ever work with families outside of the United States?
Yes! I've consulted with individuals with borderline personality disorder and their families around the world about accessing care where they live. Please e-mail me for additional information and we can set up a time to connect via video.

Why is treatment consultation so important?
I firmly believe that educated and informed clients and their families are in a position to make better medical decisions, spend their health care dollars more effectively, and feel a greater sense of control in their lives.

Simply put, making good treatment choices today means that you—or someone you love—has an opportunity to feel better even sooner.

Do therapists and hospitals pay you to promote their programs?
No.

Although I have ongoing relationships with expert mental heath professionals and excellent treatment programs, I work for you and strive to provide you with choices that meet your unique needs.

How much do you charge?
For treatment consultation, I charge $180 an hour. Most people consult with me for one or two hours and I limit consultation appointments to a maximum of six sessions per 12-month period.

Please note that consultation is different from therapy. Consultation is not reimbursable by insurance, HSAs, or FSAs.

You can make a consultation appointment with me by clicking here.

What books can you recommend about borderline personality disorder?
I have a lengthy list of favorite books that I’ve listed here.

You can purchase The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Wellness Planner through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite independent bookseller. I’d love for you to also check out The Borderline Personality Disorder Wellness Planner for Families.

What is My Dialectical Life?
My Dialectical Life is a highly-affordable email list where I teach a DBT skill each and every day.

What is My Hopeful Life?
My Hopeful Life is a once-a-week email that's created just for family members and friends of someone diagnosed with an emotion regulation disorder. 

You can subscribe today by clicking here.

I'm not interested in becoming a client but I'd like more information about BPD or dialectical behavior therapy.
That's perfectly okay.

I have a free e-mail newsletter with lots of great information that you may find useful. Please subscribe today!