Photo of Amy Mistarz

Amy Mistarz, MA, LCMHC, PMH-C

Welcome to Hearth Counseling & Consulting

I’m a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist here to provide skills and strategies for people in any stage of parenthood including fertility struggles, loss, and the complex process of adjusting to parenthood.

I’m also available to support those impacted by Severe Mental Illness (SMI) which includes chronic depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

My perspective on therapy includes deep respect for the unique experiences that shape our identities, with a specific focus on social justice. Therapy should be a space where you feel safe to be your authentic self, an experience you look forward to, and an accomplishment you feel proud of.

Education, Licensure, and Certifications

  • Professional Experience

    • Over 15 years of experience supporting families impacted by complex trauma.

    • Expertise in maternal, paternal, and reproductive mental health.

    • Highly skilled at safety assessments including evaluating risk of harm to self/others and identifying treatment options.

    • Experience working in foster care, post-adoptions, intensive in-home therapy, behavioral health urgent care, and pediatric psychiatric inpatient hospitalization.

Areas of Focus

  • Preparing for Parenthood - Assistance developing prenatal and postpartum plans and exploring options for your "village".

  • Adjusting to Parenthood - Managing the identity shifts, burnout, relational stress, and complex blends of grief and celebration associated with parenting. Assistance establishing a new rhythm of self-care, setting healthy boundaries, and addressing barriers interfering with joy.

  • Traumatic Stress in Parenthood - Addressing difficult experiences such as fertility struggles, loss, physically/emotionally challenging pregnancies, and traumatic labor/delivery.

  • Promoting Empowerment with Mood & Thought Disorders - Managing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or psychosis by increasing coping strategies, enhancing understanding of diagnoses and treatment options, assessing risk of harm to self/others, comprehensive safety planning, and resource connection.

Therapeutic Techniques & Modalities

  • Solution-Focused Therapy - Practical solutions to current challenges. Therapy without the “how does that make you feel?” part.

  • Interpersonal Therapy - Exploring the impact of relationships on various challenges. This includes relationships with your support system and with yourself.

  • Mindfulness - Cultivating self-awareness and stress management techniques. Who couldn’t use that these days?

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) -Replacing cycles of thoughts/feelings/behaviors with healthier coping strategies. If “thought spiral” or “catastrophizing” sounds familiar, this may be the treatment for you!

A Little About Me

Outside of work, I also enjoy spending time with my family, sharing stories with friends about the absurdities of parenting young kids, finding new favorite music/rediscovering old favorites, and falling asleep before deciding what to watch on TV.

Insurance Accepted

  • BCBS

  • Aetna

  • SHP

  • UHC

  • Heathy Blue

  • Carolina Complete

  • AmeriHealth Caritas

  • UHC Community Plan

  • Wellcare

  • Alliance Health

  • Out-of-network for all others

Session Availability

  • Virtual and In-Person sessions offered

Location

800 West Williams St Suite 231 D

Apex, NC 27502

Contact us
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