My name is Amy Stuart (MA, LAC, NCC) and I am the owner and operator of Saguaro Counseling and Consulting, LLC. I graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor of science in justice studies and later completed my master of arts in counseling (clinical mental health track) at Wake Forest University.
I got my start as a volunteer and contributing writer with Postpartum Support International. It was there that I had the opportunity to write on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as serve as a peer mentor for parents. I saw firsthand how much of a struggle it was for parents to get mental health support while also navigating the overwhelming exhaustion associated with feeding schedules, diaper changes, naps, and more. Being able to support and mentor people in an incredibly vulnerable time in their lives was a turning point for me and it was because of this experience that I decided to pursue a career as a licensed counselor and enrolled at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
My practicum was spent at an in-patient facility for those recovering from substance use disorders. While the clinic served both men and women, the majority of my time was spent conducting group counseling sessions on the men’s side, as well as occasionally shooting free-throws with them when there was a break! Following my experience there, I realized I have a strong interest in both men’s mental health and in facilitating group work/workshops, and these are areas that I still enjoy to this day.
When I later transitioned into private practice, I had the opportunity to work with adolescents and young adults and spent time co-leading group sessions with this demographic. However, a significant portion of my caseload was with those in public-facing roles and/or demanding, high-profile careers. This ended up being a surprising passion of mine as well and one that I still strive to grow in and cultivate. These experiences contributed greatly to my development as a well-rounded, versatile clinician capable of competently serving a variety of populations.
Ultimately, when I founded Saguaro Counseling and Consulting, my goal was to unite the skills and interventions I had learned throughout my time in school and my work in the field, and to apply them practically for the individual (through counseling) and for the workplace (through consulting). I believe the work accomplished through counseling leads to healthy, thriving individuals and the work accomplished through consulting leads to healthy, thriving places of work. In turn, this benefits whole communities.
I describe my style as eclectic, as I tend to pull from different modalities depending on the client(s) and what is most helpful for them. Dialectical behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, existential therapy, and client-centered therapy are some of my go-to approaches and what have resonated the most with folks recently. But above all, it is about you and what works for your specific situation.
Outside of my work, I love spending time with my family and friends, drinking espresso, cooking, traveling to places I’ve never seen before, and watching Star Trek. I’m also a huge fan of pretty much any physical activity, so I’m often at the gym, hiking, rock-climbing, playing some sand volleyball, or unwinding with yoga.
“As we become aware of ourselves as storytellers, we realize we can use our stories to heal and make ourselves whole.”
– Susan Wittig Albert