Since 2011, Amber has dedicated herself to advocating for youth and their families. She began her clinical career as a patient care coordinator in a nationally known psychology clinic specializing in the treatment of OCD and anxiety-based disorders. It was there that Amber was introduced to AO Therapeutic Consulting when she used her fluency in Spanish to translate therapeutic cases for AO. These introductions to the fields of mental health treatment and independent consulting sparked Amber’s passion to serve those facing barriers to achieving their academic, emotional, or social potential, and journey to become an educational and therapeutic placement specialist.  

Amber graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida International University where she also worked as an undergraduate research assistant at FIU’s Infant Development Laboratory. This internship focused on research of cognitive and social development in infants and young children of both typical and atypical development.

Amber then went on to attain a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University.  During her graduate training, Amber worked in both community and school-based settings in New York City, where she provided individual, family, and group therapy to children with a variety of emotional and behavioral challenges. Her specialties were completing comprehensive assessments and integrating each child’s family system into the therapeutic process. Upon graduation in 2014, Amber returned to Florida to join AO as a full-time consultant.  

Since entering the field of academic and therapeutic consulting, Amber has visited and assessed hundreds of programs and schools in order to recommend the best match for AO clients. Amber’s astute questioning, clinical knowledge and keen observations assist in evaluating each setting’s target student profile, level of support, quality of care, and safety measures. 

Amber is a professional member of the Therapeutic Consulting Association (TCA), the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and Young Adult Transition Association (YATA). She regularly attends national conferences, pursues continuing education opportunities, and collaborates with other professionals nationwide to expand her knowledge of evidence-based practices that will best serve our clients in their academic and clinical settings.