Amelia Armstrong-Grant, LLMSW
LIMITED LICENSED Master SOCIAL WORKER
Farmington Hills & Virtual
Hello, my name is Amelia! I provide therapy to children, teens, and families at Mala, and I strive to create a welcoming, safe, and supportive space where clients and caregivers feel understood, respected, and genuinely heard. I take a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach, focusing on each person’s strengths while supporting them in building resilience and navigating life’s challenges at their own pace.
As an adoptee, I have a deep understanding of how important early intervention, consistent support systems, and access to care can be in shaping a child’s development and long-term well-being. This lived experience has profoundly shaped my passion for this work and my commitment to offering inclusive, compassionate, and accessible care that honors the diverse experiences of children, teens, and families. It also informs my clinical approach, where I draw on client-centered, strengths-based care to meet each child, teen, and family where they are in a way that feels safe and supportive.
I specialize in play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches, solution-focused therapy, and strengths-based, trauma-informed care. I also integrate emotion regulation and practical coping skills to help children and teens build tools they can use in their everyday lives. I have a strong passion for working with children and youth who have experienced trauma and am deeply committed to supporting their healing in a way that honors their pace, strengths, and lived experiences. I support clients in building confidence, resilience, and self-understanding as they navigate life’s challenges, and I have a deeply rooted desire to help others, which continues to guide my clinical work. I also value open communication and collaboration with caregivers, and believe that supportive relationships play an essential role in helping children heal, grow, and thrive.
I earned my MSW from Eastern Michigan University, where I was drawn to its diverse and inclusive environment, which continues to shape my personal and professional values. I am grateful for the mentors and professors who supported my clinical growth and emphasized resilience, empowerment, and meeting clients where they are.
During my internship experience, I contributed to the development and implementation of surveys to evaluate intervention effectiveness and inform service delivery. This strengthened my interest in systems-based practice and reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, such as those at Mala, in providing comprehensive, trauma-informed care. It also deepened my passion for supporting children and youth who have experienced trauma and for contributing to systems that prioritize healing, safety, and continuity of care for families we serve.
Before graduate school, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in psychology and was a member of the Eastern Michigan University Swim & Dive team. My experience as a student-athlete reinforced the values of inclusivity, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, which continue to shape how I show up in my clinical work.
I also bring five years of experience working in early childhood settings, including at Gretchen’s House Childcare Center, where I supported children’s emotional, social, and developmental needs across a range of ages and backgrounds. These experiences deepened my understanding of child development and attachment and reinforced the importance of stable, nurturing environments in helping children thrive.
I am proud to be part of the Mala team and enjoy supporting children, teens, and families in our community!
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Hi, my name is Amelia. I’m a therapist at Mala, and I work with children, teens, and families. I aim to create a space that feels safe, kind, and welcoming, where kids and caregivers feel heard, supported, and understood.
I’m an open book, and I take time to get to know each child and family so sessions feel comfortable, supportive, and tailored to their needs. In sessions, I focus on each child’s strengths and what helps them feel safe and supported, and we go at a pace that feels right for them. I use play, talking, calming strategies, and coping tools to help children make sense of their feelings and express big emotions. Children are supported in feeling heard, understood, and accepted just as they are.
Outside of work, I enjoy swimming, spending time outdoors, and listening to music.
I’m really proud to be a part of the Mala team and look forward to meeting you!
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Master of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University, 2026
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Eastern Michigan University
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ADHD, Autism & AuDHD
Adoption
Anger, Impulsivity & Defiance
Anxiety, Panic Disorder & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Depression
Developmental Delays
Eating & Feeding Disorders
Grief & Loss
Identity Development
Life Transitions
Parenting or Co-Parenting Difficulties
Self-Esteem
Sexual Abuse
Trauma & PTSD
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Family Systems
Play Therapy
Psychodynamic
Trauma-Focused CBT
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Infants & Toddlers
Children (4-10)
Preteens
Teens
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Blue Cross Blue Shield
Aetna
Priority Health
Get to know Amelia
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Being able to be present with clients as they make sense of their experiences and begin to reconnect with their strengths is so special to me. It's incredibly rewarding watching small shifts happen over time; a child finding words for feelings they once acted out, a teen starting to trust their own voice, or a caregiver feeling more confident in how they respond.
I also love the relational side of the work. Being able to support not just the child, but the broader system around them, is important. I have a deep respect for the resilience people carry, even when things feel overwhelming. Making people feel empowered is so great!
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In my first adoptive family, I became deeply aware of the impact that harm, instability, and unsafe environments can have on a child’s development and sense of safety. My experiences within the foster care and adoption systems also shaped my understanding of how complex early attachment, identity, and belonging can be.
I experienced adversity within my own early caregiving environments, and those experiences gave me a lived understanding of how important it is for children to be supported in ways that are safe, consistent, and trauma-informed. Learning about trauma-informed care in my education and clinical training was significant for me, as it helped me make sense of my experiences in a way that emphasized resilience, healing, and the possibility of change rather than solely harm.
These experiences also strengthened my commitment to working with children and youth in a way that prioritizes emotional safety, empowerment, and attuned care. I have always felt a desire to help children feel protected, understood, and supported, especially those who have experienced trauma or disruption in their early environments. I just love kids!
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Sessions with me are intended to feel calm, welcoming, and collaborative. I aim to create a space where children, teens, and families feel comfortable showing up as they are, without pressure to have everything figured out. I promote respect and collaboration. Caregivers are an important part of the process, and when appropriate, I work closely with families to support communication, understanding, and consistency across environments. I'm not there to tell people what to do, I'm there to guide and build people up. My aim is to have a place where clients can explore challenges, build skills, and begin to feel more confident and connected in themselves and their relationships.That means adding tools to their tool belts with encouragement and allowing clients to thrive!
For children, sessions often include play-based and creative approaches that allow them to express thoughts and feelings in a way that feels natural to them. There isn't an emphasis on verbal communication because some children are uncomfortable or unable to verbalize feelings and experiences. For teens, sessions may be more conversational, while still incorporating practical tools, reflection, and skill-building based on what feels helpful in the moment.
Across all ages, I take a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach, which means I focus on understanding each person’s experiences while also recognizing their resilience and existing strengths. We move at a pace that feels safe and manageable, and I regularly check in to make sure the process feels supportive rather than overwhelming.
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This is a place where you can talk, play, and be yourself. I’m here to listen, help you understand your feelings, and support you in finding ways to handle hard things!
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I’m passionate about helping children and teens feel seen, supported, and capable, especially during difficult or overwhelming times. I’m also passionate about early intervention and the role that consistent, supportive relationships play in a child’s development and long-term well-being.
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I have two:
"Still I rise." – Maya Angelou
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I swam D1 in college at University of Iowa (one year) and Eastern Michigan University (3 years)
I was adopted twice (birth family 5 kids, youngest of 5)
I prefer to eat with spoons and bowls, even when forks and plates are available
My cat is 18 years old and I have had him since I was 9 years old!
I got to meet a pygmy hippo (my favorite animal)!
I was interviewed for Black History Month celebration at EMU and featured on their sports account several times
I tap danced and traveled with a private dance company for 7 years... (did ballet, musical theater as well)
I recently found out that I hold AAU records for Open Age Group swimming (in the 50 and 100 freestyle) since 2013
My Spotify listening age is 56 (lol)
I can single leg press 660 lbs