Amanda Jones

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Rochester and a Mental Health Counselor - Limited Permit in New York and North Carolina. For more than eight years, I have worked in community mental health, correctional settings, rehabilitation services, private practice, and higher education, supporting individuals facing trauma, mental health concerns, and systemic barriers. While earning my PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling and Counselor Education from North Carolina A&T State University, I worked with individuals with developmental disabilities and others facing significant life challenges. These experiences strengthened my commitment to strengths-based counseling and helping individuals build meaningful lives despite adversity. My clinical experience includes working with incarcerated women, individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and clients navigating racial trauma and chronic stress. I am particularly passionate about supporting Black individuals and families affected by racism and discrimination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I founded Eunoia Holistic Counseling Services in North Carolina to support members of the Black community experiencing anxiety, grief, and emotional exhaustion amid both the pandemic and ongoing exposure to racial violence online. This work significantly shaped my clinical perspective and research interests. Today, my research focuses on the effects of racial trauma exposure through social media, particularly among Black adolescents and emerging adults. As a clinician, educator, mentor, and researcher, my goal is to help individuals feel supported, empowered, and capable of healing while navigating life's challenges