Amber Shuster, PhD, LMHCA
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Shuster joined our team in August 2025. She is supervised by Karen Pavlidis, PhD, Andrea Dorsch, PhD, and Kayleigh O’Donnell, PhD.

Education:

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology

Certificate in Grief, Loss, and Trauma

M.S., Applied Behavior Analysis

Licensure:

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate, MHCA.MC.61682152

Training:

APA-Approved Pre-Doctoral Internship at Tennessee Internship Consortium: KLASS Center, Jefferson County Schools

Professional Memberships:

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Specialties:

Evaluation Services

  • Developmental evaluations

  • Learning Assessments

  • Neurodevelopmental disabilities (ADHD, Autism Spectrum)

  • Gifted Testing

Therapy Services

  • Parenting

  • Executive Functioning (time management, organization, planning, etc.)

  • Academic Intervention

  • Social Skills

  • Emotion Regulation

  • Coping Skills

Special Populations

  • LGBTQ+

  • Autism

  • ADHD

  • Learning Disabilities

Therapy approaches

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Exposure and Response Therapy 

  • Solutions Focused 

  • Family Systems

  • Behavior Management Training for Parents

My Approach:

My experience has been in both school and clinical settings, and with individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. My training has emphasized psychoeducational and social-emotional assessment, with a focus on neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, ADHD) and learning disorders. I rely on a collaborative, strengths-based approach throughout the assessment and intervention processes to ensure my work is thorough and practical.

My clinical approach is grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), while also drawing on ecological, solution-focused, and behavioral perspectives. In my work with clients, I consider how their perceptions and responses interact with their environment, life stage, and cultural background. This well-rounded view allows me to create individualized treatment plans that reflect each client’s unique needs. I enjoy working with both individuals, parents, and families, where I emphasize positive, evidence-based strategies to help clients build resilience and make meaningful, lasting changes.

Whether in assessment or therapy, I approach my work with compassion, patience, and a down-to-earth style. I believe that trust and humor are essential in building strong therapeutic relationships and helping clients feel empowered and supported. I strive to provide services that are culturally responsive, developmentally informed, and grounded in evidence-based practice.