Amanda Malka, A.M.F.T.

Associate Marriage & Family Therapist 

*** Amanda is accepting new patients ***

Hi there I am so happy you are here. 

My name is Amanda Malka (she/her) and I am an associate marriage and family therapist in San Diego. I have great passion supporting and empowering my clients while they walk through their healing journey and take the steps to seek the change they are wanting for their life. One of my main goals as a therapist is helping my clients feel that they are the experts of their life and that they have the power to re-author their story. My hope is that my clients begin to feel that they are in the driver’s seat. And just because you are in the driver’s seat, does not mean you are on your road trip alone. It’s okay to ask for directions. It’s okay to have a travel buddy. I am here, in the passenger’s seat, supporting you on your journey. 

I am a clinician who believes in health at every size, and I am passionate about providing a safe and welcoming space for individuals who may be struggling with body image, self-esteem, and feeling comfortable in their skin as we all navigate through our society that continues to perpetuate diet culture and pressure to meet certain “beauty standards.” Self-acceptance and self-love are life-long journeys and my goal is to support you in feeling less alone during the process. 

I also have experience working with clients who have anxiety, depression, trauma, and those undergoing life transitions. I enjoy working with adults and couples. As a queer therapist, I am also extremely passionate about providing LGBTQIA+ and gender affirming care.

My approach is collaborative, holistic, trauma-informed, empathetic, and nonjudgmental. While I love utilizing narrative therapy, I do incorporate other modalities where I see fit to meet the individual needs of my clients/couples. I have experience working with diverse populations and conceptualize therapy through a systemic and social justice lens. We will look at the many systems that impact you and help shape who you are today. What are some narratives that are no longer serving you? What would you like to take with you and leave behind as you step into this next chapter of your life and make the changes you are wanting to see come into fusion? 

Changes can be scary and feel overwhelming… and you do not need to endure this alone. It is so brave of you to take this first step of seeking support. 

When I am not seeing clients, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our cats (they are my pride and joy)! Something that is important to me is the idea of “pouring back into ourselves.” There’s a famous phrase that you may have heard before: “You cannot pour from an empty cup” and I typically will ask my clients each session how they are pouring back into themselves. My “pouring-in activities” are typically going to spin classes, getting my nails done, coloring, and trying new coffee shops around San Diego. 

I am a registered associate therapist (AMFT 145146) and I am supervised by Dr. Jennifer Piper (PSY 28988).