My name is Amanda Knuff (she/her). I’m a registered social worker with a private psychotherapy practice. My work is grounded in curiosity, careful attention, and deep respect for how people adapt in response to their environments. I’m especially interested in understanding serious mental illness and trauma, alongside an ongoing commitment to understanding myself and the systems we all live within.

I live and work as a settler on Anishinaabe territory, also known as the Algoma District in Northern Ontario. Outside of my work, my life is centered around family, time outdoors, and supporting my children as they grow. We also share our home with a dog who loves people deeply—and, like many nervous systems, can become reactive at times.

My academic training includes an undergraduate degree in Psychology, a Certificate in Social Welfare through Indigenous-focused studies at Algoma University, and an Advanced Generalist Master’s degree in Social Work from Grand Valley State University. While this foundation was essential, much of what has shaped my practice has come from continued study, clinical experience, and learning about the body, brain, and how we function in relationship to our environments.

Since beginning my career in 2007, I’ve remained committed to what Jon Kabat-Zinn describes as a “beginner’s mind.” This orientation continues to guide how I work—staying curious, grounded, and attentive while integrating theory, biology, and lived experience. It allows me to meet people where they are and approach each therapeutic relationship with presence, care, and respect.

Over the years, I’ve worked with youth, adults, and elders across a range of settings. Much of my work has involved supporting people who live with high levels of responsibility, ongoing stress, or complex relational and systemic demands. I’m often drawn to working with individuals who are thoughtful, capable, and resourceful, yet still notice automatic reactions or periods of shutdown that don’t align with how they want to show up in their lives.

In therapy, we focus on understanding these patterns at the level where they were learned—often within the nervous system—so new ways of responding can gradually emerge. This work is not about pushing change, but about creating the conditions where flexibility and choice become possible. At the heart of my work is a belief that small, well-timed shifts can create meaningful and lasting change over time.