The Team

Amanda Malanga, LPC, NCC, ACS

Early in her journey, Amanda had a passion and drive for law enforcement. Recognizing the need for mental health services within the criminal justice field, she decided to pursue a career as a Licensed Professional Counselor. For almost 20 years, Amanda has practiced in a variety of clinical settings, including community mental health centers, residential placements, family homes, schools, and outpatient settings. She has also worked closely with schools to help bridge the gap between the educational and mental health systems.

Amanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She earned her Master of Science in Psychological Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Amanda is also a Certified Yoga Instructor and is passionate about providing clinical supervision and guiding clinicians in balancing professionalism with personal growth.

Amanda uses an integrative approach to therapy, tailoring treatment to the specific developmental, emotional, and interpersonal needs of each client. She is proficient in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), with additional training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, sensory processing disorders, and play-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She also incorporates family systems and Gottman Method-informed approaches into her work with couples and families.

Amanda's yoga training allows her to incorporate movement into sessions when appropriate, helping children and adults work through strong emotions they may experience in their bodies. She is also a Nurtured Heart Approach Advanced Trainer and a Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Instructor.

Amanda works with children ages 3 and older, adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, and families. Her areas of experience include anxiety, OCD, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, attachment concerns, sensory processing disorders, self-harm, social skills difficulties, school refusal, academic concerns related to emotional and mental health, work-related stress, family conflict, and pre- and post-marital counseling. She also has experience supporting law enforcement members and their families.

In her work with couples and families, Amanda helps clients better understand relationship patterns, strengthen communication, navigate conflict, and build healthier connections. Her background in Marriage and Family Therapy allows her to consider not only the individual, but also the relationships and systems that influence a client's experiences.

Amanda strives to meet clients where they are while providing individualized support that considers the whole person. Whether helping a child navigate strong emotions, supporting an adolescent struggling at school, working with an adult through anxiety or trauma, or helping a couple or family strengthen their relationships, Amanda brings extensive clinical experience and an integrative perspective to the therapeutic process.

Amanda may be a great fit if you are:

• Looking for an experienced therapist who works with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, couples, and families
• Struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, or PTSD
• Seeking support for ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing concerns, attachment issues, or social skills difficulties
• Looking for support for a child experiencing school refusal or emotional or mental health concerns affecting academics
• A couple looking to improve communication, navigate conflict, or strengthen your relationship
• A family experiencing conflict or wanting to build healthier patterns and connections
• Seeking pre- or post-marital counseling
• A law enforcement member or family member seeking mental health support
• Interested in an individualized approach that may incorporate CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Gottman Method-informed interventions, or movement

Katie Cautero, LAC, NCC

Katie Cautero is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) at Guided Hope Center and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She earned her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. Through her clinical internship, Katie gained experience supporting clients through a range of trauma-related behavioral and mental health challenges, including crisis intervention. This experience deepened her commitment to meeting people in their hardest moments with steadiness, compassion, and care.

Katie believes that seeking support is a courageous step toward growth and feels honored to be part of each client's journey. Her approach is person-centered and strengths-based, drawing from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), somatic-informed approaches, creativity, and emotion-focused interventions. She tailors each session to her clients' unique goals, helping them build self-awareness, healthier coping skills, and lasting change.

Katie works with adolescents, young adults, and adults experiencing stress, anxiety, life transitions, relationship concerns, identity development, self-esteem challenges, trauma, and women's issues. She is passionate about empowering clients to reconnect with their strengths, build resilience, and gain confidence while navigating life's challenges.

Clients are welcome to show up exactly as they are. Recognizing that safety looks different for everyone, Katie strives to create a warm, collaborative space grounded in curiosity, trust, and genuine connection. Her hope is that clients leave each session feeling more empowered, understood, and equipped with the tools they need to move forward with greater confidence and self-compassion.

Katie may be a great fit if you are:

• Feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or the demands of daily life
• Healing from trauma or difficult life experiences
• Navigating a major life transition or identity changes
• Wanting to build healthier relationships and improve communication
• Looking to strengthen your self-esteem and self-compassion
• Seeking a therapist who provides a warm, collaborative, and creative approach to therapy

Katie O'Neal, LAC

Katie O'Neal is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) at Guided Hope Center with over 25 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families through education, counseling, and mental health services. She began her career as a teacher in 1998 before becoming a school counselor in 2005. In addition to her work at Guided Hope Center, Katie currently serves as a high school counselor, giving her a unique understanding of the academic, emotional, and social challenges that adolescents and families face.

Katie earned her Master's degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. She believes therapy should be a collaborative, supportive experience where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful change. Her approach is tailored to each individual's needs, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, Polyvagal Theory, and Clinical Hypnosis (Levels I and II) to help clients build practical skills, regulate emotions, and develop resilience.

Katie works with adolescents, adults, and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, grief, self-esteem challenges, stress, and life transitions. She enjoys helping clients better understand themselves while providing practical tools they can use long after therapy ends.

Clients often describe Katie as compassionate, genuine, and easy to talk to. She believes that while therapy often involves difficult conversations, healing doesn't have to happen without laughter. Katie enjoys using humor when appropriate to help clients feel comfortable, build connection, and find hope—even during life's most challenging seasons.

Katie offers in-person, telehealth, and walk-and-talk therapy sessions, allowing clients to choose the setting that best supports their comfort and therapeutic goals.

Katie may be a great fit if you are:

• Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, or life's daily demands
• Navigating grief, a major life transition, or relationship challenges
• Looking to improve emotional regulation and build healthier coping skills
• Wanting practical strategies you can use outside of therapy
• Seeking a therapist who is warm, collaborative, genuine, and believes growth can include moments of laughter

Grayson Woolrey, LAC, NCC

Grayson Woolery is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Centenary University. He works with clients across the lifespan, including children as young as six, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Grayson has experience supporting clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, identity exploration, relationship challenges, life transitions, and behavioral concerns.

Grayson takes a person-centered, strengths-based approach to therapy and believes that seeking support is a courageous step toward growth. He strives to meet clients where they are while helping them recognize and build upon their existing strengths. His approach is also informed by systemic and ecosystemic perspectives, recognizing that our families, relationships, communities, and experiences all shape who we are.

Clients can expect Grayson to be empathetic, authentic, and engaged throughout the therapeutic process. He believes meaningful change comes from feeling understood while also being gently challenged to engage in self-discovery. Grayson brings directness and curiosity into his work while creating a space where clients can feel safe being themselves, explore difficult experiences, and develop greater self-awareness and resilience.

Grayson works with individuals, couples, and families, including LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse clients. He is passionate about helping clients navigate life's challenges, strengthen their relationships, and develop the confidence and skills needed to move forward.

Grayson may be a great fit if you are:

• Navigating anxiety, depression, stress, or difficult emotions
• Working through trauma or challenging life experiences
• Experiencing family or relationship difficulties
• Exploring identity or navigating life transitions
• Looking to strengthen your coping skills, self-esteem, or resilience
• Seeking support with parenting or family dynamics
• Looking for a therapist who will both affirm you and gently challenge you