Amanda Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration at the University of West Florida in 2016, continuing to earn her Master of Social Work at Florida State University in 2020. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Doctor of Social Work program at the University of Kentucky. Her research is focused on terminally ill adolescents and their mental health needs. She developed a passion for this population while working with adolescents at Nemours Children’s Hospital while in her MSW program. This experience provided her with insight into the mental health needs of these young patients and highlighted the lack of literature or modalities of care specific to this population. She hopes that her work in this field will lead to developments in care models that help support these young people and their families during such a vulnerable time.
Amanda currently runs her own practice, Elysian Mental Health Counseling, LLC. She sees a broad range of clients but specializes in palliative, hospice care patients, and grief. She has also worked within the Florida Prison system, leading to her earning a contract with the state of Florida as a clinical auditor. She creates training for clinicians who work in the prison system to ensure adequate care is being provided and correctly documented. She hopes to bridge her two professional passions and work with the state prison system to strengthen their hospice and palliative care programs
DSW Showcase Student Presentation
Amanda Smith
LCSW, DSW Candidate
Navigating Mental Health Needs in Terminally Ill Adolescents
Concentration - Clinical Social Work
- Monday, April 28, 2025 -
- 2:30 pm
Abstract
The mental health needs of adolescents are often overlooked within the hospice and palliative care setting. As social workers, there is a responsibility to “enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable” (NASW, 2021). End of life is one of the most vulnerable times in a person’s life, and the ability to provide effective interventions to assist with mental health issues regardless of age is well within the scope and calling of the profession. Clinical Social Work can play a unique role in striving to provide effective interventions to offset the mental health concerns of the terminally ill. Studies have shown that the prevalence of anxiety and depression in adolescents is higher than in the general population. Evaluation of therapy model effectiveness is needed to ensure adequate care for these patients. This capstone seeks to discover if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Existential Therapy used through a humanistic lens can be married to create an effective model for adolescent patients with terminal illnesses.