Amber Smith-Laventure, LCSW
Founder | Clinical Director | Educator
Leading Clinicians. Developing Therapists. Transforming Mental Health Care.
Amber is the Founder and Clinical Director of Melanated Healing, where she provides advanced trauma-informed psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and professional consultation. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, University of Pennsylvania MSW Lecturer, and Clinical Supervisor, Amber specializes in trauma, EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), burnout recovery, and culturally responsive mental health care. She is passionate about developing clinicians, strengthening ethical practice, and cultivating emotionally healthy communities throughout Pennsylvania.
MEET AMBER
Amber believes exceptional mental health care begins with exceptional clinicians.
While she continues to provide psychotherapy to adolescents and adults, her passion has expanded beyond the therapy room to include mentoring therapists, advancing clinical excellence, and building sustainable systems of care that empower both clients and clinicians to thrive.
Amber has cultivated a practice grounded in cultural humility, trauma-informed care, ethical leadership, faith and clinical integrity. She is committed to creating a practice where clients receive exceptional care and clinicians are supported in becoming confident, competent, and compassionate professionals.
In addition to leading Melanated Healing, Amber serves as a Part-Time Lecturer and Field Liaison at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice, where she provides clinical consultation, supervises Master of Social Work students in field placement, collaborates with community agencies, and evaluates developing clinicians.
Her career has included work across emergency social work, children's behavioral health, outpatient therapy, crisis intervention, and community mental health, giving her a broad understanding of clinical practice across multiple systems of care.
CLINICAL PHILOSOPHY
Amber believes therapy is more than treating symptoms.
It is an opportunity to help people reconnect with their values, strengthen their relationships, and build lives rooted in authenticity and purpose.
Likewise, she believes clinical supervision is more than reviewing cases.
It is the process of developing therapists who think critically, practice ethically, and lead with confidence, humility, and compassion.
Her work is deeply influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and systems thinking. She also integrates Christian faith into treatment when requested by clients & clinicians.
SERVICES
Clinical Supervision
Individual and group supervision for pre-licensed clinicians seeking clinical growth, ethical practice, and confidence in their therapeutic work.
Professional Consultation
Consultation for therapists, group practices, nonprofit organizations, and behavioral health professionals seeking guidance in trauma-informed care, clinical decision-making, documentation, ethics, and practice development.
Speaking & Training
Amber provides workshops and presentations on topics including:
Trauma-Informed Care
Burnout Prevention
Clinical Documentation
ACT
EMDR
Mindfulness
Therapist Self-Care
Clinical Leadership
Cultural Humility
Mental Health in the Workplace
CREDENTIALS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Pennsylvania)
Part-Time Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice
EMDRIA Basic Trained in EMDR
Master of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors of Psychology, Chestnut Hill College
What It's Like to Work With Amber
Whether you are a therapy client, supervisee, or fellow clinician, Amber is known for creating spaces that balance compassion with accountability.
Clients often describe her as thoughtful, insightful, and deeply present.
Supervisees appreciate her ability to ask meaningful questions that strengthen clinical thinking while fostering confidence and professional growth.
Amber believes people—and clinicians—grow best when they feel both supported and challenged. Her goal is to help others not only navigate difficult moments but become the kind of person or professional they aspire to be.
Ready to Work Together?
Whether you're seeking looking for a clinical supervisor, interested in professional consultation, or searching for a speaker or trainer, Amber would be honored to partner with you.
Let's build healthier individuals, stronger clinicians, and more healthy communities—together.
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"I recommend Melanated Healing, LLC. for Black women who want to heal. We need safe spaces to work through our emotions and traumas, and we deserve providers who understand our unique experiences. Amber Smith consistently fostered a space that made me feel safe and supported to be vulnerable and explore some of my hard-to-discuss experiences. Her commitment to showing up for me (her client) was apparent, and with her support, I worked on healing from my traumas. Our time together felt intentional ⎯ from the practices she implemented, the tools she taught, and the supplementary resources she shared. I am proud of my progress and am grateful for Amber's support!"
Aja