Meet Amanda Frudakis-Ruckel, LCSW

About Amanda

I was born, raised, educated, and clinically trained in New York. In 2019, my family and I made Long Valley, New Jersey our home. I am appreciative of the sense of community and connection to nature that Long Valley offers. Within this close-knit community, I've discovered what many of us seek - a pace of life that allows for both professional fulfillment and personal joy, from family dinners to impromptu movie marathons, and shared adventures with my husband and two children.

Why I Became a Therapist

My interest in psychology isn't just professional- it's deeply personal, anchored in my own experiences of navigating:

The complexities of chronic illness
Supporting family diagnosed with cancer
Processing multiple losses
Balancing relationships and career
Managing daily demands

Pronouns: she/her

These experiences fuel my passion for making a meaningful impact in people's lives, whether through private practice, consulting, speaking, or research. I see my work as creating positive ripples of hope and empowerment that extend far beyond you, me, and our therapy sessions together.

How I work

I am on a continual search for understanding what it truly means to be human. I believe we all carry an inner compass and natural wisdom that guides us toward growth and authenticity. Yet in the distractions of everyday life, it's easy to lose touch with this inner voice. We're constantly surrounded by messages about who we should be, what success looks like, and how we should live our lives. These external pressures can slowly dim our connection to our true selves, making it harder to hear our own wisdom, trust our instincts, or make choices that truly reflect our values and needs.

In our work together, I don't see myself as someone who will tell you how to live your life. Instead, think of me as a facilitator of possibilities. My role is to help you clear away the noise and reconnect with your own inner knowing - to help you uncover the wisdom that has always been within you. Together, we'll explore who you truly are beneath the expectations and pressures, what genuinely matters to you, and how you want to show up in your relationships and in the world.

I help people to:

Discover and realize their unique talents and creativity
Define their own identity, values, and beliefs
Navigate universal existential challenges around meaning, freedom, isolation, and mortality
Create meaningful change through active, conscious choices

My approach combines evidence-based techniques with real-world understanding. Whether you're:

Feeling stuck between career ambitions and personal life
Wrestling with anxiety in our always-on world
Navigating relationships in the digital age
Seeking meaning beyond the traditional markers of success
Managing family expectations while building your own path

I'm here to help you find your way.

Education and Training

Master's in Social Work: Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services
Bachelor's in Psychology: SUNY Stony Brook University
Certified Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator

Professional Experience

My career path includes:

Psychology research leadership with the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism
Clinical work at prestigious institutions:
- Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Weill Cornell Medicine
- Francis Residency Program for Women and Infants
- Jarvie Commonweal Service
Clinical training through NYC's Mental Health Service Corps under psychiatric supervision as well as supervision under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Therapeutic Toolkit: Expertise that Evolves with You

As a trauma-informed clinician, I combine humanistic and existential frameworks with evidence-based practices. I integrate multiple approaches to meet your unique needs including:

Traditional methods (CBT, DBT, Interpersonal Therapy)
Mind-body techniques (Trauma-Sensitive Yoga; Bilateral movement)
Narrative and existential approaches
Practical problem-solving strategies
Holistic wellness practices

Speciality Areas

I specialize in helping clients with:

Anxiety and stress management
Life transitions
Grief and loss
Cancer and chronic illness
Caregiver support
Interpersonal Trauma Healing
Quarter-life and mid-life transitions
Work-life balance challenges

SCHEDULE A FREE INTRO CALL

Find a therapist that gets you.

Psychotherapy that fits you.

Meaningful change happens when you have a voice. Finding the right therapist is just the first step—your active participation and choices continue to shape our work together. You'll always have the freedom to choose what feels right for you.

Your ally in total wellness.

As your therapist, I consider everything: your physical well-being, relationships, work life, spiritual beliefs and personal history. Because you're a whole person deserving of care that evolves with you.

Therapy on your terms.

At Person to Person Psychotherapy, we blend innovative approaches with proven techniques to create experiences that resonate with real life. Therapy adapts to fit your world—not the other way around.