Welcome to my universe, new and old friends!


Hi! I'm Amanda.  Thanks for checking out my home-made  website!

I'm a Professional Counselor in Austin Texas and the self-proclaimed 'Catalyst for Fun'. 

I am a former resident of New Orleans, Louisiana who moved to Austin, Texas 13 years ago to complete my Masters Degree in Social Work.

I love my career as a social worker, and have specialized my practice as a mental health counselor.

Being from Louisiana, it is easy to have an "inhibition against inhibitions", and I often meet people by breaking the ice/introducing myself and/or inviting them to dance or into a conversation.  I may have met you that way!

I consider myself to be 'social connector', which means that I enjoy referring people to one another and the resources they need. I joke with people that I put the 'social' in being a social worker.

I have published an Austin email newsletter, "Catalyst for Fun Hot Tips Newsletter" .  about once a week for the last 7 years to about 1200 people to inform them about community, personal growth and activist resources and events.

Thanks for visiting my site! I look forward to sharing with you!

 Please feel free to Friend me on Facebook below or visit me on Linked In under "Amanda Winters in Austin"

Please feel free to subscribe to the Austin Newsletter by joining here:
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Please feel free to subscribe to the National Newsletter by joining here:
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I invite you to join my networks on Facebook and LinkedIn found by searching for "Amanda Winters in Austin"
*Why I love Austin : I find Austin to be the most progressive, tolerant, community- activist oriented place I have ever lived. I could not have made it up.  ...I have heard it compared to being 'stuck in the plush of the velvet rut' .Many people know it as the 'live music capital of the world'..however I also see it as one of  'the personal growth mecca of the universe'. One can catch a class on environmentalism, yoga, eastern or western spirituality, etc on any given night, for instance. It has led to my interest in non-dualistic spiritual philosophy, for exp (which is reflected by the books I recommend on my reading lists on this site).  Austin is also full of warm, friendly people who often refer to one other as ' their chosen family' and there are always many folk singing, potluck parties ..as well as clean water to jump in, wildflowers and many great hiking trails.
      **Please see my Austin Recreation Guide and many other Austin Resource Files brown tab at the top of this webpage, to see more about Austin!

**About my counseling practice:

I am available to help you as a Professional Counselor by telephone and, if you are in Austin, Texas, in person.

I am a  Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I offer counseling in half hour increments.
I use a brief, solutions-focused method (ie: I focus on sharing practical resources and insights by session's end). 

I also utilize a technique known as “The Work” Method of Self Inquiry.
In August 09 I graduated from Byron Katie's School for the Work and am now a Facilitator of "The Work"
I am happy to share more about how The Work with you, and to do it with you.  If you are interested, please email me from my contact page, linked above, to arrange for us to speak.
..Under the resources section of Byron Katie's website, there are lots of great free video clips and a great audio recording on receiving criticism that I recommend especially. 

You can check out my summary document that highlights more about the method.

To learn more about my approach to counseling, or to explore the possibility of our working together, please email me! 

**Recommended Resource: Please feel free to check out my Recommended Spiritual and Pscyhological Teachers  List:   


 **For Austinites: feel free to check out the Free and Low-Cost Resources for Mental Health that I have created:

Party Pics: Streetcar in New Orleans, Under the Rainbow at the Jazzfest and Dancing with a Lil New Friend!