Project HELP, Inc. recently announced that Amanda Youngsman joined the team. A licensed mental health therapist in the state of Florida, Ms. Youngsman will aid Project HELP’s mission of supporting survivors of rape, violence, crime or loss of a loved one.

Having a therapist work with these survivors to process through the difficulties of such ordeals is critical to helping them achieve clarity and peace of mind to move forward with their lives, ac-cording to Project HELP Executive Director Eileen Wesley.

“Ms. Youngsman is the perfect fit to provide the crucial services necessary to help these victims move on from traumatic events,” Ms. Wesley said. “Her experience in grief, sexual assault and domestic violence counseling aligns her perfectly with who we work with on a daily basis. Amanda Youngsman is a welcome addition to our highly skilled, empathetic team.”

Ms. Youngsman was drawn to work with Project HELP from her experience in grief counseling, along with her years working with substance abuse and mental health issues in the underserved community. She has offered crisis counseling during community traumas, including most recently following the Parkland school shooting. Ms. Youngsman is also part of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team in Collier County for First Responders.

“It is a privilege to help survivors of traumatic events and senseless crimes, especially those who are already in an underserved community,” Ms. Youngsman said of her new post. “I’m honored to help broaden Project HELP’s mission and hopefully bring a positive voice and friendly face to those who need it.”

About Project HELP, Inc.

Project HELP is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1986 with the mission to work with dignity and compassion to ease the pain of those affected by rape, violence, crime or loss of a loved one. Project HELP is the only state-certified Sexual Assault and Rape Recovery Crisis Center in Collier County that provides advocacy and free counseling to individuals affected by sexual violence, crime and sudden death. Multifaceted counseling services include individual-ized, family, couples and group counseling for individuals who are dealing with similar issues.

About Amanda Youngsman

Amanda Youngsman, MA, LMHC graduated in 2015 with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida Gulf Coast University. Ms. Youngsman provides individual, family and group counseling in a variety of settings with varying ages. She is working on a certification in EMDR therapy to broaden her treatment modalities. In her free time, Ms. Youngsman enjoys long distance running and spending time with her husband and four children.