Amel Whitaker, LMFT
Licensed Wellness and Mental Health Professional
About Amel
Specializing in Mental Wellness for Seniors
Amel Whitaker is a California licensed professional counselor, author, and speaker on mental health for aging adults. His passion is to enhance the wellbeing of aging adults so they can live to their fullest potential during this chapter of their life. With aging being extended through research and medical breakthroughs, the opportunity for meaningful and purposeful living is available more than ever.
Amel holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, an MA in Psychology from John F. Kennedy University School of Psychology, and two years of coursework toward a PhD in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. He is professionally certified in Mental Health for Aging Adults and Autism through John F. Kennedy University. He is a former Wellness Instructor at Sun City Roseville and Lincoln Hills and currently teaches at Sierra College through the OLLI program. Amel is also an ordained pastor with Vineyard USA.
Throughout his career as a private therapist, addressing the mental health needs of his community has always been a critical part of Amel’s work. Collaborating with licensed mental health professionals, graduate interns, and interfaith organizations, Amel has managed an outpatient mental health clinic and developed two nonprofit counseling centers in Northern California. These centers are dedicated to providing individual and group therapy to individuals in need of mental health services. His counseling center model and lay counseling training programs are currently used in organizations throughout the Bay Area.
At HealthNet Insurance, Amel developed patient care processes for both their Autism and Special Needs programs. In this role, he provided internal training throughout the United States and offered support to member individuals, families, and service providers.
Amel’s speaking and writing focus on topics such as Is It Aging or Alzheimer’s , Happiness Is a Choice for Seniors , Living with Purpose , Strengthening Your Memory , Living with a Chronic Condition , Life Transition and Change , as well as anxiety and depression in seniors.
Amel is available for speaking engagements, presentations, and workshops on a variety of topics related to the wellbeing and happiness of aging adults.