Hi, I'm Dr. Sandra Milling
I'm the founder of Amare Psychology
Welcome!
I'm glad you are here. Chances are if you are reading this you are interested in receiving therapy services and trying to identify if I would be a good fit for you. This is an excellent first step in getting to know a therapist, so kudos to you for taking the time to be a discerning potential client. There is a vast amount of research to indicate that the therapeutic relationship is the most important determining factor for therapy success. I encourage you to allow yourself the time to become familiar with any prospective therapist. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me.
Get to Know Me
To see if I might be a good fit for you, let me tell you a bit about myself. I’m a licensed psychologist based in Charlotte, NC. Becoming a therapist was a natural fit for me professionally, as building connections, establishing relationships, and caring for others have always been a part of who I am. As a therapist, my style is compassionate, warm, and non-judgmental. I strive to be authentic in my clinical work. I use the therapeutic relationship to help my patients process their emotions, explore their identities, and heal from past pain. Part of my authentic self is using humor in therapy. When using humor appropriately, laughter can be powerful medicine. To support the therapeutic relationship, I strive to provide a safe and validating space for my clients. My goal is to help you feel supported and understood.
My Qualifications and Experience
I have been a therapist since 2009. I started my clinical practice journey in the area of substance abuse counseling. I earned a Master of Science degree in Substance Abuse and Clinical Counseling and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from East Carolina University in 2009. From my work as a substance abuse counselor, I discovered that trauma is often the underlying cause for many mental health issues. Trauma dysregulates our ability to cope and causes unhealthy behavior patterns to manifest. My interest in trauma and its impact on overall health prompted me to further my education. I earned my PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from UNC Charlotte in 2018. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Appalachian State University Counseling Center, specializing in trauma, binge eating, anxiety/depression, and health behavior change. I am a licensed psychologist in NC (license #5635). I help clients develop the tools to self-regulate and be kind to themselves. My specialties include helping others heal from trauma, improve their sense of self-worth, recover from binge eating, overcome weight concerns, and reduce anxiety and depression.
About Amare
I founded Amare Psychology with the mission to help others learn to love themselves. I believe the process of true healing begins with learning to love oneself. What does loving ourselves mean? Self-love is not criticizing our every mistake, belittling our successes, judging our perceived faults, or neglecting our physical and emotional health. Self-love is learning to be compassionate even when we regret our actions or fail to meet our own expectations. Self-love is prioritizing your physical and emotional health. It is my strongly held belief that when we engage in self-love and self-compassion, this is when true healing occurs. I chose the name “Amare” as I thought it was fitting given that it is Latin for the expression “to love.” I hope you show yourself some love today.
Please contact me for a free consultation.