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About Us
Luminations Psychotherapy and Wellness is a group psychotherapy practice that provides services to adults, children, and adolescents. We take a holistic approach to mental health and wellness, focusing on the mind body connection. Our therapist are trained in both traditional psychotherapy, as well as integrative mind body psychotherapy and practices, including craniosacral therapy, yoga, mindfulness and meditative breath work.
In addition to our mind body approach, we are dedicated to providing LGBTQ affirming services and have over 10 years of experience of LGBTQ activism and psychotherapy. Located in the heart of Andersonville, our offices provide a safe and welcoming environment for the community.
Our therapists include psychologists and counselors who are grounded in various theoretical orientations, including psychodynamic, humanistic/existential and person centered approaches. We are also trauma informed and work with a wide range of presenting issues including but not limited to:
Adults
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- PTSD
- Identity struggles
- Coming out struggles
- Transitioning struggles
- Relationship issues
- Work struggles
- Self-esteem issues
- Stress management
Children & Adolescents
- Depression
- Anxiety
- School struggles
- School refusal
- Behavioral problems
- Identity struggles
- Coming out struggles
- Divorce
- Self-esteem issues
- Stress management
- Trauma
Our Values
At Luminations Psychotherapy and Wellness, we not only believe in a holistic mind body approach to wellness, we practice this ourselves. Through our own mind body practices, we have come to appreciate and experience how the mind and body influence each other, and how balance is essential in obtaining and maintaining a sense of wellbeing. This is especially true when dealing with trauma. Physiological markers are often present in individuals who have experienced trauma and chronic stress. Traditional talk therapy does not always restore physiological balance in ways that more integrative approaches are able to, including yoga, meditation, breath work, and craniosacral therapy. Clients are free to choose, however, whether their therapist at Luminations takes an integrative approach to psychotherapy or sticks with a more traditional approach.
We also believe that real therapy and healing cannot take place unless clients are truly seen and respected. That is why we are dedicated to understanding all cleints’ lived experiences and take seriously, LGBTQ affirming services. We have seen how LGBTQ rights have shifted over the past several years and how the ever shifting social climate has impacted LGBTQ individuals and their families. We also understand and are sensitive to the many ways in which transgender and gender non-conforming individuals may choose to transition, whether it be socially, medically, or both. We have helped many navigate the complicated systems involved in transitioning, including working with people through the process of gender confirmation surgery and insuring that all WPATH requirements are met if needed for insurance coverage.
Lastly, we believe that good therapy begins with a therapist’s solid foundation in a theoretical orientation rather than a haphazard approach. Our therapists are grounded in psychodynamic, humanistic/existential and person centered approaches. We have taken our training and knowledge beyond our graduate school training, and actively engage in continued learning and growth.
Fees
Luminations is committed to providing access to services for underserved and underinsured clients. Our staff offers sliding scale fees when possible for clients who do not have insurance or are otherwise unable to pay the full fee. We receive several inquiries regarding sliding scale services, so we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request. Please do not let this discourage you from inquiring though, as we do our best to accommodate.
Forms of payment accepted for services include, all major credit cards, cash, and checks. Payments are made at the time of service.
Insurance Accepted
Luminations therapists are in-network providers with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and Blue Choice PPO. This means, clients with these policies are only responsible for paying copays for each session after their deductibles are met. Prior to your first appointment, our staff will verify your benefits with Blue Cross Blue Shield so you know how much your copays will be. We will also submit claims for you as well.
We will also work with you to receive reimbursement if you have out-of-network insurance. We will provide you with a detailed invoice that you can send to your insurance company, which typically results in some form of reimbursement paid to you.
Services
Adult Psychotherapy
Luminations therapists offer both traditional talk therapy and integrative psychotherapy for adults, which integrates traditional talk therapy with craniosacral therapy, both grounded in a psychodynamic and humanistic/existential framework. Although we offer both types of therapy as standalone treatment options, integrating mind body treatments can be very beneficial in balancing the nervous system and restoring a sense of calm while processing difficult emotions during talk therapy. Whether you choose to engage in traditional or integrative psychotherapy, each session is 55 minutes and meeting times typically occur once a week, although some clients meet twice a week or more. Our therapists have flexible schedules and have appointments available in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
Luminations takes a similar holistic approach to working with children and adolescents. Our therapists incorporate yoga techniques, as well as meditation and breath work into traditional and non-directive play therapy within a person centered framework. This integrative approach can help children and adolescents relax and be more engaged in the therapeutic process, as well as provide coping skills they can use outside of therapy sessions. Each session is 55 minutes and meeting times typically occur once a week, although our therapists may discuss more frequent appointments with parents and their children. Our therapists know that evening and weekend appointments work best for most families, thus both are available.
Craniosacral therapy
We also offer craniosacral therapy for adults, which is a gentle, hands-on treatment for the whole body. During sessions, clients lie down on a massage table, fully clothed. Treatments are tailored to each individual’s needs and focus on restoring balance to the nervous system. Craniosacral therapy can be very beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma or experience chronic anxiety. This is a great adjunct to psychotherapy, especially for those with treatment resistant anxiety and PTSD. Our standalone treatments do not involve talk therapy, and they typically last 55 minutes and occur once a week, although sometimes clients prefer less or more frequent appointments.
Therapists
Amy McNew
Dr. Amy McNew is a licensed clinical psychologist and craniosacral therapist, as well as the founder of Luminations Psychotherapy and Wellness. Her doctoral education included five years of LGBTQ affirming training and psychotherapy, and she has been an active member of the LGBTQ community for over a decade.
Dr. McNew takes a holistic, collaborative approach to helping clients heal by using a combination of psychotherapy and craniosacral therapy to help clients move toward a sense of peace and balance in their lives. For many, this means working together with Dr. McNew to heal from past traumas, overcome symptoms of depression and anxiety, learning to be more self-accepting, cultivating more fulfilling relationships, and finding a deeper sense of self and meaning in life.
Dr. McNew works within an Existential/Humanistic and Psychodynamic framework. She offers individual psychotherapy for adults, and for those interested, she integrates craniosacral therapy and psychotherapy. Blending bodywork with talk therapy can benefit clients by helping both the body and mind to heal from trauma and stress and achieve a deeper state of relaxation. She also offers craniosacral therapy as a standalone treatment.
In addition to Dr. McNew’s above stated therapeutic orientation, she believes that the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is also essential for healing and transformation. She is dedicated to providing affirming services to the LGBTQ community and supporting clients of all identities through the process of self-actualization.
Marcella Blum
The body, mind, and spirit work gracefully in a balance to create an inspired reality for each of us. When one of these entities is thrown off, however, life may suddenly have uncomfortable sharp edges and unexpected obstacles that are tough to navigate on our own.
Marcella is a mindfulness-based counselor with experience in person-centered philosophies that serve to empower the individual as the authority on their life, their experiences, their interests, and their desire for change. This allows the person to grow in their capacity for autonomy, strength, and personal know-how to implement positive life changes moving forward. Marcella works best in collaboration with folks who are motivated for change, possess a willingness to try new approaches to life, and foster an enthusiasm to explore ideas and ways of thinking that they perhaps have not previously. She maintains a strong belief that every individual has the capacity to be resilient with the right encouragement, and that all the answers are within – it’s just a matter of having the right tools or support to find the way. Marcella believes in the power of laughter as a form of healing, as well as allowing tears to flow for cleansing of the heart and clarity of the mind.
In her clinical experience, Marcella has worked with children, adolescents, young adults, and adults in multiple capacities. Specifically, she practices non-directive play therapy with children, which allows the child to navigate their emotions and perception of reality in their own language- imaginative play. Marcella implements person-centered, mindfulness therapy, and trauma-informed approaches as her primary philosophies of care. Also, she very much encourages creativity and personal tailoring throughout the therapeutic process.
Marcella has had the pleasure of witnessing many individuals grow in understanding of themselves and others. She has served as an egalitarian partner in healing as these individuals develop the capacity to identify their own emotions and use coping mechanisms to navigate challenging situations. Furthermore, Marcella is eager to implement yoga and mindfulness as a form of group therapy, as it is a healing foundation for self-awareness, self-respect, understanding of others, and positive mind-body alignment for folks of all ages and backgrounds.
Balance is an important aspect of Marcella’s life. She enjoys being active through running and using her bicycle as a main mode of transportation around the city. She keeps herself centered through her daily yoga and meditation practice, and she devotes her time volunteering with multiple non-profit organizations that she believes in and resonates with. She enjoys reading, writing, multiple art mediums, music, being an advocate and voice for others, and spending time with friends, family, and her pets. She can be described as having a very warm and accepting presence, having a fun sense of humor, and her demeanor encourages individuals to challenge themselves towards positive growth and development of their personal strengths.
LYZANNE MALFITANO
Lyzanne is a trauma-informed therapist who enjoys helping her clients experience healing, growth, and connection in their lives. She has over five years of trauma-informed counseling training, and is also experienced in providing LGBTQ affirming therapy. She believes that all clients have the capacity to heal and grow, and she takes a holistic approach to her work with clients.
It is important to a person’s well-being to have satisfying interpersonal relationships with others, which is the foundation of relational therapy. This way of working begins with the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist. Lyzanne takes a collaborative, person-centered approach to create a trusting and safe partnership with her clients. This work also integrates how identity and cultural issues impact individuals’ relationships, with respect to race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
People experience the world not only though their thoughts and emotions, but also simultaneously through their bodies. Utilizing this body-centered orientation, Lyzanne can blend talk therapy with mindfulness and breathing exercises for clients. These techniques can offer clients different tools to better cope with the effects of trauma or chronic stress.
Lyzanne offers individual psychotherapy and couples counseling for adults. She has a passion for providing LGBTQ affirming therapy, and welcomes the exploration of gender identities, transitions, and non-heteronormative relationships. In her clinical experience, Lyzanne has worked with presenting concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, sexual concerns, family of origin issues, and life transitions. Her work is greatly influenced by her work with communities focused on sexual violence recovery, racial justice, and LGBTQ equality.
Contact Us
If you are interested in our services, please call, email or complete the form below: