Fundamental Growth

22/04/2025

Happy Earth Day to all!!!
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And just because we have one calendar day set aside to celebrate Mother Earth, doesn't mean we shouldn't honor her beauty every single moment. We are nature, and the absolute best thing we can do for every aspect of our health is to get off our devices and make our way out the door. Enjoy the great outdoors, whatever access you can get, and take care of the world around you. Leave it better than you found it and it will leave you better in return.
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17/04/2025

Mindfulness IRL is trying to make a comeback! Follow to practice being mindful in real life with me.

It's been a minute since I posted on Mindfulness IRL—but I'm back! In this honest and mindful confession, I’m sharing why I’ve been away, including some scan...

03/04/2025

Happy Birthday Dr. Jane Goodall!

Earlier this week, at the Sierra Symposium, Amanda had the ultimate privilege to sit in a room with and listen to this incredible human speak about her life's purpose. There aren't words to properly describe her presence, but magnetic, intelligent, thoughtful, wise, compassionate, articulate, and energetic are some in an attempt. She embodies true leadership and inspires continued stewardship of our incredible planet.

At a time when the blatant abuse of Mother Earth and her inhabitants seems to be at an all-time high, this 91-year-old still spends 300 days a year away from home to inspire conservation all around the world. We are just as much as part of the natural world as anything else, so as Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, remember that Earth Day is every day, and the best way care for yourself and your loved ones is to care for the world around us.

Volunteer with and/or support organizations such as the Sierra Club, the Jane Goodall Institute, Roots & Shoots USA, and the many more that are out there. Educate yourself. (I highly recommend starting with "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer, one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.) Reduce, reuse, recycle, in that order. Vote for politicians and legislation that support environmental protections and restoration. Support sustainable businesses that truly care about making the world a better place for all. And reach out to me if you're still not sure how to get involved, but ultimately, give back as much, if not more, than you take!

13/03/2025

Note from Amanda: I don’t post much on social media about social and political issues. Not because I don’t care (I’m plenty involved in the real world), but because it isn’t the best space for thoughtful, nuanced, and compassionate discourse. I’m either preaching to the choir or inviting ego and ignorance to dance.

I’ve spent my entire life striving to understand different points of view. Of course, this is a huge part of my professional work and something I enjoy in all areas of life. I’ve always been very curious and genuinely interested in others because I value learning and love connecting with different people. This has given me a strong knowledge base, beliefs, and ideas that I think are becoming more important to share. And, flawed as it is, social media and the Internet as a whole are the best we have to reach more people (if the algorithm allows it).

Diversity is vital for life to thrive (biologically and socially). If someone respectfully shares differing ideas that are thoughtful and backed by legit, observable evidence, I take them into consideration. Unfortunately, as our society becomes less informed and more divided, I find many are not as willing to be curious, thoughtful, and open, so connection and communication become nearly impossible. I know I’m not the only one left unheard, misunderstood, and disrespected. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to interact with those who are unwilling to listen, pause and reflect, learn, grow, and connect with others.

Yet, it’s necessary because whether we like it or not, we’re all in this together. And things certainly don’t seem to be going so well at the moment. Sure, some people have zero empathy (unfortunately, many of them are in power, which is par for the course based on the overly individualistic and consumerist values our society currently embodies), but I still believe most people are doing the best they can, given their life experiences, and deep down, mean well, even when uninformed and misguided.

The truth is, we could all benefit from slowing down, pausing, growing our ability to be present, aware, and curious, and connect with others thoughtfully and compassionately. I realize this is difficult to do with so much fear and anger swirling about, but, while fear and anger might start a revolution, they don’t sustain change for the long haul. So, we have to try something different.
We have to become more aware in the present moment, more mindful. Being more present has been incredibly valuable to my life, and is central to connecting us and increasing the wisdom our society so desperately needs. It’s by no means easy to practice, especially with so many distractions and the “move fast and break things” mentality in our modern society. But that’s why it’s called practice!

In an attempt to do what I can with what I have, I’m sharing more about my experience and what I know about incorporating mindfulness, nature, movement, and creativity into real life. In particular, at the beginning of the year, I started writing a weekly email reminder to be more present, called “A Mindful Minute.” If you think you could benefit from such a reminder, please sign up for it at https://fundamentalgrowth.com/ (or send me your email and I can add you myself) and share it with others. I’ll send it out nearly every Sunday and take up only one minute of your time with a thought, practice, or resource to try out for the next week. My website also has more resources that might be useful, including a blog and links to YouTube and other social media, which I’m aiming to update more often, as well as opportunities to connect and be present in real life. Mindfulness may not solve everything in and of itself, but it’s a great foundation and it can’t hurt to give it a shot.

Los Angeles, California therapy, coaching, and consulting. Trauma-informed ecotherapist and mindfulness educator in LA specializing in climate grief and climate anxiety, crisis counseling for natural disasters, depression, ADHD, neurodiversity, creative blocks, addiction, electronic addiction, and r

06/02/2025

For those in need of a break and some healing for both yourself and nature, come join Amanda this Sunday from 9-11am in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. She's facilitating a forest bathing fundraiser for Sierra Club Central Group Los Angeles. Guaranteed peace and restoration. Plus, burn a few calories before your Super Bowl parties!

Join the Central Group for a Forest Bathing Fundraiser in the heart of Griffith Park! Enjoy a guided forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) experience, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest. Connect with nature, reduce stress, and boost

14/01/2025

What freaking week it's been! We're safe here and luckier than many, so here's another list of LA wildfire resources, just in case you don't already have enough. It's by no means an exhaustive list (there are links to more comprehensive ones), but it's a place to start. Stay safe and reach out if anyone needs anything, including therapy as FUNdaMENTAL Growth and many other therapists are providing pro bono sessions for those directly affected, including first responders.

Discover essential wildfire resources in Los Angeles at Fundamental Growth. Find up-to-date information on evacuation plans, emergency preparedness, local support services, and recovery assistance to keep you and your community safe during wildfire events.

11/12/2024

In a time of "build fast and break things," "move slow and build things" has become our motto.

It sure is exciting to blow things up when they aren't working. But too much has been left broken (the environment, relationships, minds, and bodies) due to the lack of wise decision making that comes with impulsivity and immediate gratification.

We're more stressed and depressed than ever. We're lonely and disconnected, eating and buying our feelings. FOMO runs our lives, and more is never enough.

Slowing down regulates our nervous systems, puts us back into the present moment, and gives us the time to mindfully make choices that support our values, goals, and well-being, as well as those around us and the world as a whole.

Visit the blog link in bio for some tips on how to slow your roll. And I'd love to hear how you slow things down when life's moving too fast.

25/09/2024

Amanda is facilitating a forest bathing experience in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, as a fundraiser for the Sierra Club this Sunday morning.

To reserve your spot, please register here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00000MBFiFIAX&mapLinkHref=

And pay by Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/CentralGroup.

Please note the full name of the registrant and that payment is for the Forest Bathing event.

Join the Central Group for a Forest Bathing Fundraiser in the heart of Griffith Park! Enjoy a guided forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) experience, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest. Connect with nature, reduce stress, and boost

22/03/2024

Not everyone follows the advice "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all," so Amanda Stemen shared some responses with Time magazine to use if people say rude things to you.

27/12/2023

Wondering if your New Year's resolutions are attainable? Amanda and other therapists shared some thoughts on how to best reach your goals with HuffPost.

Therapists score New Year’s goals and offer tips on making them realistic.