Amy Reamer

Amy Reamer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor with a deep passion for helping individuals, families, and professionals understand the brain, the nervous system, and the pathways to healing after early adversity. She believes strongly in the innate creativity and strength of people to find their own solutions when they feel safe, regulated, and understood.

As the founder of Heart & Mind Therapy, Amy brings both personal and professional experience in developmental trauma, attachment disruptions, and neurodevelopmental differences to her work. Her clinical lens is grounded in neuroscience-informed, relational, and somatic approaches that support lasting regulation, connection, and resilience across the lifespan.

Amy is a self-described “brain geek” who is known for translating complex neuroscience into accessible, meaningful tools for healing. Her work focuses on how early trauma, neglect, and stress shape the developing brain and nervous system—and how regulation can be restored through sensory, relational, and play-based experiences.

She is the author of Toby the Tiger Tamer, a children’s book developed from play therapy sessions to help children understand what is happening in their brains and bodies during moments of dysregulation. The Tiger Taming framework has since expanded into a broader model used with children, teens, adults, parents, and professionals who often carry beliefs that they are “broken” or “failing,” offering instead language, hope, and a pathway toward regulation.

Amy is also the creator of the Tiger Taming Drills and the accompanying Tame Your Tiger workbook, and she regularly provides training, workshops, and consultation for therapists, educators, and community organizations seeking trauma-informed, brain-aligned practices. She co-hosts the Regulation Revolution podcast, which supports listeners in understanding their nervous systems and reclaiming joy, connection, and self-compassion.

When providing clinical services, Amy focuses exclusively on specialized interventions rather than general outpatient therapy. Her current areas of specialization include:

• Safe and Sound in the Sand – a 12-session intervention combining the Safe and Sound Protocol with sand tray therapy, supporting children (ages 8+), teens, and adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, shutdown, sensory sensitivities, and relational difficulties.

Amy provides clinical supervision for LPCs and LMFTs in Virginia, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor (RPT-S) supervision, and consultation for professionals integrating trauma-informed, nervous-system-aware care into their work.

She holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, a post-baccalaureate certificate in Psychology with a Play Therapy specialization, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development at Fielding Graduate University.

Interested in working together or learning more?

Amy is not currently accepting general therapy clients. She welcomes inquiries related to specialized clinical interventions, professional training, consultation, supervision, and speaking engagements. Requests can be submitted through the Heart & Mind Therapy request form.