Meet Amanda

A woman with curly dark hair (Amanda Kenney, LCSW) smiling, wearing a sleeveless purple blouse and moon necklace, standing in front of a bright, blurred indoor background.

Hi! I’m Amanda Kenney, LCSW (she/her), owner and founder of Moonrise Pathways, PLLC, therapist, trauma professional, and fellow human also navigating the complexities of life.

Work With Me
Work With Me

Core Beliefs at the Heart of My Counseling Approach

I believe therapy works best when it is human. I wouldn’t want to be vulnerable with someone who was basically a robot, so I won’t impose that on you! Are professional boundaries important? Sure, but I can maintain them and still show up genuinely rather than be a blank slate or inorganic (plus, my face has uncontrollable subtitles).

I believe trauma-informed care is systems-informed care. I recognize how identity, culture, and systems of power shape our lived experiences. I’m committed to honoring your inherent worth and full, authentic self while factoring in the impacts of the state of the world and the systems at play. I also recognize the colonial and political issues within the mental health field itself. I am committed to (un)learning and the ongoing work of decolonizing my practice to reduce these harms as we work towards collective liberation.

I believe healing happens in connection. I do integrate different “evidence-based” modalities and interventions, but building trust and authentic connection comes first (and research supports this!)

I believe you are the expert in you. Whatever “qualifications” I have, you know you best, so I’m not going to impose any fixed method or path or uphold traditional hierarchies. This is a partnership; we’ll collaborate to find the blend that suits you, and if something isn’t working, we’ll pivot and adjust!

Professional Background

    • Master of Social Work (MSW) from North Carolina State University

    • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Human Development with minors in Public Justice and Health Science from the State University of New York at Oswego

    • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in North Carolina, C015373

    • NASW Certified Social Work Clinical Supervisor

    • EMDRIA Approved EMDR-Trained Clinician

    • Evergreen Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), #710523

    • Evergreen Certified Somatic Therapy Foundations Practitioner (CSTFP), #327130

  • I’m dedicated to lifelong learning and adaptation, ensuring that I continue to grow and evolve (personally and professionally!).

    My Integrative Training Focus includes education and training in “evidence-based” modalities and interventions that inform my approach such as:

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

    • Motivational Interviewing (MI)

    • Trauma-focused therapy

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS)**

    • Somatic therapy & mind-body approaches

    Note: there are a lot of limitations to the research behind “evidence-based” modalities. This is why I prefer to use an eclectic and integrative approach, blending different techniques and approaches in a way that works for you and your goals!

    **Disclaimer: While I do have education and training focused on incorporating parts work and IFS into my practice, I am NOT officially IFS trained through the IFS institute!

  • I’ve been working in mental health since 2019, beginning my career in community-based care and transitioning to private practice in 2023. I founded Moonrise Pathways in late 2025.

    Before becoming a therapist, my experiences were within the more mezzo and macro realms—basically meaning I was more involved in systems work such as community education and initiatives, outreach, research, and policy analysis. This is something I’m still very passionate about and plan to return to in addition to my clinical work. In the mean time, I find opportunities to engage/volunteer with local organizations and get connected with broader efforts.

The Human (& her dog)

Amanda standing in front of framed quote "It always seems impossible until it is done - Nelson Mandela," Amanda is wearing a black shirt with the words "Go to therapy, read books, take accountability"
Amanda smiling running marathon wearing red tank top and blue leggings
A woman with long dark hair and a watch on her wrist is sitting and holding a smiling puppy with curly fur, wearing a white shirt, in front of a stack of books.

Outside of sessions, I enjoy reading, running, bowling, hiking, and cheering on my sports teams—especially the Rangers & Giants (you can take the girl out of New York but…). Of course, there’s also spending time with my dog Lucy Lu, who might be available to say hi virtually from time to time!

Our personal lives impact how we show up, so it’s important to me to practice the balance and self-compassion I encourage therapy participants to explore. I’m a therapist in therapy, doing my own work too, so I am deeply and personally aware of how non-linear the process can be.

This is just a quick glimpse of me as a human. You are totally welcome to ask me questions throughout our time together without hearing some robotic response, like “what would it mean to you for me to answer that” or whatever. I can’t promise to answer all of the things, but I’m not going to be like the Wizard of Oz hiding behind the curtain either.

Quick Facts

  • Born and raised in New York, moved to NC in 2016

  • Identities I carry: white, Latina, neurodivergent, bi, cis-woman

  • Eldest millennial daughter

  • Fueled by black iced coffee

  • Very much vibe with the quote: “Profanity is more necessary to me than is immunity from colds”