About Amy

Amy is an award-winning eating disorder recovery advocate, professional speaker, trained suicide hotline crisis counselor, certified online counseling and intervention specialist, and suicide prevention trainer. She has worked in mental health education and suicide prevention for over ten years. She specializes in youth mental health and addresses the root causes of the youth mental health crisis, not the symptoms. She believes trauma and emotional pain fuel the crisis, and until we address the real issues, the crisis will never end.

Amy is also a former pre-professional classical ballet dancer who survived an 18-year battle with bulimia. In 2013, she founded the nonprofit organization Dancing with ED, Inc., to inspire all dance community members to love and care for their bodies through eating disorder awareness, outreach, and education. Dance is her passion. You can find her taking classes at Ballet Arizona on the weekends.

Her powerful testimony of triumph over suicide and living with a mental health condition, bipolar II, and PTSD has been heard by over 5,000 young people across the Southwest. She speaks nationally for schools, colleges, and conferences.

In addition to speaking and training, I’m excited to offer a new group coaching program called Hope Rising. This program is designed for Moms navigating the challenges of supporting their teens through mental health struggles. Through the transformative power of self-care, hope, and community, I equip Moms with the tools they need to nurture a healthier relationship with themselves and their teens.

"I give them practical tools, help them set goals, and, most importantly, give them hope and the knowledge they are not alone in trying to help their child."

Education & Experience

Higher Education

• Current Graduate Student at Capella University studying Clinical Social Work

• Bachelors in Human Services, University of Phoenix, 2008

• National Certification in Massage Therapist, 2001

Certifications

•  Certified Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist, 2022 to present

• Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer, 2017 - 2020

• Q.P.R. Trainer, 2016 - present

• NAMI Ending the Silence Facilitator, 2017

Awards

• Love Warrior Award, 2018; Recognized by Eating Disorder Recovery Support (EDRS), Non-Profit

Memberships

• National Association of Social Workers

• Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition

• Mental Health American Advocacy Network

• Suicide Prevention Council of San Luis Obispo

• Member of NAMI Valley of the Sun

• National Speakers Association

• Mental Health American Arizona

Boards/Advisory

• Semicolon Society Arizona Advisory Board

• Scottsdale Youth and Community Coalition

• Teens 4 Teens Help Advisory Board

• Hunger for Awareness

• Eating Disorders Suicide Prevention Committee Chair

Partnerships

• Semicolon Society Arizona Advisory Board

• Scottsdale Youth and Community Coalition

• Teens 4 Teens Help Advisory Board

• I Am Teen Strong

• Eating Disorders Suicide Prevention Committee Chair

Specializations:

•  Youth Mental Health Education

• Dance community, Mental Health Advocacy and Eating Disorder Awareness

• Eating Disorder Prevention

• Suicide Prevention Training for School Staff & Parents of Youth

• Healing & Recovery from Trauma & Abuse