our story

we are Planted
Practice

Hello! I am Amanda Groo, born and raised here on the Central Coast of California.

Creating a private practice for our local community has been a dream for mine since I started grad school. Well, I am excited to give back to the place I call home with Planted Practice.

What we offer

We meet you wherever you are. Here are some common challenges we help our clients with:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety 
  • Substance Use
  • Relationship Difficulties
  • Life Transitions
  • Difficulties with Self-Esteem
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Professional/Career Issues
  • College/Graduate School Issues
  • Medical and Health Concerns
  • Stress Management
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Gender Identity Support
  • LGBT Counseling
  • Grief, Loss, or Bereavement
  • Other Issues

“We grow where we are planted.”

For the last ten years, I have been away from Central Coast, exploring different continents and earning my master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology with an emphasis on mental health. While learning my master’s degree, I co-authored three peer-reviewed researched articles covering topics such as gatekeeping in counseling, supervision, and legal preparedness for clinicians.  In 2020, I completed my master’s from the University of South Dakota and returned home to begin giving back to the community that raised me.

My counseling experience lends itself toward supporting individuals with anxiety, depression, substance use, life transitions, and self-esteem. All of which I approach through a trauma-informed lens. My early clinical experience came from working with college students, as they navigated the challenges of young adulthood, depression, anxiety, and perfectionism. From there, I moved to Austin, Texas where I worked with populations that had limited access to mental health services, ranging in ages of teens to individuals in their seventies. Since returning to California, I have worked with the diverse populations in various settings in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

 

 
“The things that make me different are the things that make me”- Winnie the Pooh! Who knew a little bear in a red shirt could be so inspiring to those who need it. This little bear and his friends guided me through trials and struggles and now I am here to do the same with you.
 
My firm belief is that everyone deserves the opportunity to be heard and grow from their own past and not feel outcasted or ashamed about it. I am here every step of the way to laugh with you, cry with you, grow with you, and challenge you to become the best version of who you want to be. I will sit in the mud with you or climb the tallest mountain with you.
 
I have had the pleasure of working with a variety of mental health diagnosis in various settings which leads to me wanting to help those who want the help and those who feel they are not worthy of help because yes you are worthy of help. I work with children, teens, women, couples, families, and addiction.
 
The therapeutic journey is one we will take together, and I know just trying to figure out where to start is sometimes the hardest part. Let’s start together and create a road map of what YOU want in therapy. This is YOUR journey after all.

what makes us Different

Experienced Therapists

Experience in residential treatment centers, out-patient treatment and private practice.

Individual Approaches

You're unique and so should your therapy. We use CBT, DBT, EMDR, mindfulness and more.

Based in Community

From the Central Coast for the Central Coast.

modern techniques

Our therapists are trained in various advanced techniques.