About Amanda Handleson, Licensed Educational Psychologist in Santa Barbara

THE STORY BEHIND R ooted within

Rooted Within grew from that understanding. My goal is to bring together my training in the psychology field with the approachable, real-life learning that happens inside a family. While many parents come in wanting support around discipline or behavior, the real work usually begins with creating an environment and rhythm that naturally support those needs.

Today, I offer one to one sessions for parents who want grounded, developmentally informed support, and integrative evaluations when deeper insight into learning is needed. Through my Substack, I share reflections, ideas, and stories about parenting, regulation, rhythms, and the small shifts that make daily life feel lighter. I also fold in pieces of my creative background — style, books, home projects, self-development,  and the everyday beauty that makes family life feel more nourishing.

My hope is that this space helps families feel a little more steady. Parenting is a meaningful chapter, but also overwhelming at times. My work is here to offer support that feels clear, grounded, and aligned with your family’s values.

I am a mother of three, a licensed educational psychologist, and someone who has always been drawn to the quiet, grounding rhythms that make a home feel like a place to land. My work has lived at the intersection of child development, psychology, creativity, and family life for more than fifteen years, but it was motherhood that revealed the heart of what I now teach and support.

Before starting Rooted Within, I spent years in school settings and met so many families who were doing everything they could yet still felt overwhelmed. I kept noticing a missing piece: so much support focused on getting children to do, rather than understanding what they developmentally need in order to grow, regulate, and thrive.

At home, I was learning the same lessons. Raising three children showed me how essential rhythm, nervous system regulation, and intentional choices really are. I learned that parents don’t just need strategies — we need someone to teach us how to slow down, notice what our children are communicating, and understand what our home and family truly need in order to feel more grounded.