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Meet The Team
Amber Fender, LISW-CP/S
Therapist, Owner
Amber Fender, LISW-CP/S, is a trauma therapist, EMDRIA-Certified EMDR provider, Certified Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher (200-hour RYT), and Reiki Practitioner. A cancer and childhood trauma survivor, Amber is passionate about guiding others through difficult life transitions and believes deeply in the power of post-traumatic growth. Her work is rooted in nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and the understanding that healing is possible with the right support. ​ Since earning her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California, Amber has spent over a decade serving diverse populations—including hospice patients, crime survivors, and families navigating neurodivergence. She specializes in trauma, grief, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm, offering EMDR and Emotion-Focused Therapy to children (6+), teens, and adults in both individual and community-based settings. ​ Amber also integrates creative expression, somatic practices, and pet-assisted therapy into her work. Her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lucy, joins in-person sessions to offer comfort and grounding support. Amber believes in holistic, accessible care and partners with mission-aligned organizations to expand mental health services throughout the Charleston area.
My Method
Amber specializes in trauma recovery related to both single-event and ongoing traumatic experiences, including childhood adversity, loss, relationship trauma, and chronic stress. She takes a compassionate, strengths-based approach to help clients feel grounded, supported, and empowered in their healing. Whether working through EMDR, CBT, SFBT, or Motivational Interviewing, Amber tailors each therapy experience to meet your unique needs—because healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Amber is a Licensed Independent Social Worker of Clinical Practice (LISW-CP/S) and is approved by the SC Board to provide clinical supervision for social workers pursuing licensure. ​ ​
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Lucy
Therapy Assistant
At Tides Therapy & Consulting, we are honored to offer Pet-Assisted Therapy as part of our in-person services to support clients on their healing journey. This modality is especially helpful for nervous system regulation and trauma recovery, providing a gentle, nonverbal bridge to emotional safety and connection. Our therapy dog-in-training, Lucy, is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel born on December 29, 2023. She was selected not only for her breed’s natural gentleness and emotional attunement, but also for her intuitive ability to respond to stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm with calm, loving presence. Lucy is being lovingly trained by Amber Fender, and lives at home with her and her two autistic children. Her everyday life is filled with opportunities to practice co-regulation, build trust, and offer consistent companionship—skills that she brings into the therapy space with warmth and sensitivity. Lucy is currently pursuing her Canine Good Citizen certificate, demonstrating her commitment (and ours) to safe, structured, and effective therapeutic support. Whether resting quietly beside a client, providing soft eye contact, or offering a soothing presence during difficult moments, Lucy plays an important role in: Supporting regulation of the nervous system Helping children and adults feel safe in the present moment Enhancing connection and trust within the therapy relationship Reducing symptoms of anxiety and hypervigilance Facilitating emotional expression and grounding during trauma work Pet-Assisted Therapy is available for in-person sessions only. Lucy’s presence is always optional and guided by client preference and comfort. For many, her gentle companionship offers a path to healing that words alone cannot reach.
Expanding Access to Care
At Tides Therapy & Consulting, we believe mental health care should be accessible, not out of reach. That’s why we’re committed to expanding access through low-cost sessions with closely supervised graduate interns. Whether navigating trauma, anxiety, grief, or major life transitions, we offer trauma-informed, high-quality support for individuals who may otherwise face financial or systemic barriers to care. Healing should be available to everyone—and we’re here to make that possible.
Meet Decatur Beckman
Decatur is a graduate student in The Citadel’s Clinical Counseling program and will be joining Tides Therapy & Consulting from June through December 2025. He brings experience providing trauma-informed support to children and adults through previous work with Charleston County School District and MUSC Burn Behavioral Health. His background includes group facilitation, psychoeducation, and evidence-based interventions for stress, grief, and PTSD. Decatur is passionate about creating emotionally safe spaces and is committed to a future as a licensed professional counselor.
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