About Amber Helms
Amber Helms – My Journey Towards Counseling
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Kansas City in 2010. What began as a short-term adventure turned into an endeavor that has evolved into my deep commitment to personal growth and supporting others on their healing journey. The more I have learned to embrace my own identity and process of transformation, the deeper my care for others grows.
I have worked for years in nonprofit and church leadership, aiming to create healthy communities that welcome the suffering. When families and churches are safe, trauma-informed, and compassionate, they are positioned to reflect the zeal of the Father in bringing His heart to the earth. When they are not, they can deepen shame and blur the vision of truth that actually sets one free.
I was adopted out of foster care in 2016 and became a firsthand witness to the power of love, deliverance, and healing. Through our family restoration journey, I have seen a clear parallel of the hope available for all our stories.
My adoption experience led me to pursue a graduate degree in social work at the University of Kansas, with the goal of becoming a clinical social worker and therapist. I wanted to learn more about the science and art of human design, apply these concepts to systems and hearts for healing, and be positioned to disseminate the truths I have gathered over the years.
Send Me A Message
My Area Of Expertise
My specialities include working with trauma, grief, relational issues, and spirituality. I have experience with anxiety, depression, and self-worth challenges. I work with kids, teens, adults, and/or families using a trauma and attachment lens to discover patterns, cycles, beliefs, and behaviors that are influencing experiences in order to target change together. I can integrate faith into sessions and provide experiential healing prayer or processing sessions.
I also have years of personal and professional experience working with foster and adoptive families, and provide unique assistance to all members of the triad - adoptees, foster/adoptive families, and biological families.
How I Approach Therapy
I embrace a personalized route of recovery for each person that is tailor-made by your journey and needs using the presence and tools that I have to offer. All my work is trauma-informed, attachment/relational-based, and somatically-informed. Some modalities I use to address change are EMDR, CBT, TF-CBT, mindfulness, grounding, and experiential treatment. We start with you and your story and go from there to meet your needs.
What Makes Me Unique
I have journeyed through my own hard nights and have acquired a relentless hope and grit for what is possible and want to help you do the same. I bring warmth and joy and truly believe there is a pathway before us all to heal, grow, and gain new tools for living. I want to provide you with the reassurance that you are not alone as you work and wait for a new day.
What I Am Like Outside Of The Office
I often describe myself as the first to laugh and the first to cry. I feel deeply and live fully. I’m not afraid to dive into the beauty and suffering of this life, keeping an eternal worldview within the frame. I enjoy traveling, hearing stories, learning history, eating good food, and finding laughter anytime, anywhere. I have a teenager, a poodle, too many plants, and a lot of love for the people in my world.
If you already feel a good connection with me, feel free to book an appointment, and we’ll meet soon. If you have other questions before you feel comfortable, e-mail me at amber@hopehealingllc.com, and we’ll set up a 15-minute call. See you soon.
Education
University of Kansas, Master of Social Work
Training
Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol Children (EMDR IATP-C)
Trust-Based Relational Intervention