Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Sharp Cogorno.
Hi Amanda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey toward founding Monarch Behavioral Health has been one of resilience, growth, and an unwavering belief in the power of healing. I began my career in 2000, working full time while pursuing graduate and doctoral degrees in psychology. During those years, I balanced motherhood, education, and multiple jobs, and was driven by a commitment to create a better life for my family and to serve others with compassion and understanding.
Throughout my internships I worked with under served and rural populations providing counseling services and psychological evaluations. These experiences deepened my understanding of the trauma lens, how to foster resilience, and understand the barriers many individuals face in accessing quality mental health care. It also reinforced my desire to create a practice that offered both excellence in clinical service and genuine human connection.
In 2019, I founded Monarch Behavioral Health, a woman-owned practice built on the values of empathy, integrity, and growth. The name “Monarch” reflects transformation, the belief that with support, people can emerge from life’s challenges stronger and more self-aware. Our team provides psychological evaluations and therapy services designed to empower individuals and families to understand themselves more fully and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Today, Monarch Behavioral Health continues to grow as a trusted provider of comprehensive, trauma-informed psychological care. Each step of my personal and professional journey has shaped the mission of this practice: to help others transform, heal, and thrive, one person, one family, one story at a time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Balancing responsibilities of working full time, raising two young children, and pursuing a doctoral degree required persistence and sacrifice, and it also strengthened my determination to create a life rooted in purpose and service. The work we do is very meaningful and we have to find balance in what we do professionally, while maintaining a personal life. After obtaining my license, I navigated the instability of contract work before opening a private practice. These experiences tested me deeply and also gave me empathy for those doing their best to rebuild, often in difficult circumstances. In 2020, in the midst of uncertainty and a rapidly changing world, I took a chance on myself and decided to grow Monarch Behavioral Health. Establishing the practice came with many obstacles: limited resources, navigating licensing and insurance systems, and the challenges of building a trusted reputation from the ground up. Yet through perseverance, community support, and a commitment to quality, Monarch has grown steadily.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Monarch Behavioral Health, PLLC?
Monarch Behavioral Health is a woman-owned psychological practice dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve meaningful growth through understanding, healing, and empowerment. We specialize in comprehensive psychological evaluations and therapeutic services for children, adolescents, and adults helping clients and their families gain clarity around learning differences, ADHD, autism, trauma, and emotional or behavioral challenges.
Our approach is grounded in empathy and evidence-based practice. We’re known for creating a supportive, welcoming environment where each client feels seen, heard, and understood. Our evaluations go beyond labels, they provide practical insights, tailored recommendations, and a roadmap for progress. This holistic, collaborative model allows us to partner with schools, healthcare providers, and families to ensure every client receives the support they need to thrive.
What sets Monarch apart is our belief that transformation is possible for everyone. Much like the monarch butterfly, we view growth as a journey, one that often emerges from adversity. Our brand embodies resilience, hope, and empowerment, and we are proud to be recognized for our compassionate care and commitment to excellence in psychological assessment.
At Monarch Behavioral Health, we’re not just evaluating challenges, we’re helping people rediscover their strengths, rewrite their stories, and move forward with confidence and purpose.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe luck has played both a challenging and guiding role in my journey. In many ways, I’ve experienced what might be called “bad” luck: unforeseen life circumstances, financial obstacles, and professional setbacks that forced me to start over more than once. Yet, each of those moments ultimately led me to growth and purpose.
When I founded Monarch Behavioral Health, it wasn’t because the timing was perfect, it was because I had to make something meaningful out of difficult circumstances. So while luck has not always been easy or kind, it has shaped me into a leader who understands perseverance and gratitude. Every challenge has made Monarch stronger, more grounded, and more aligned with its mission, to help others rise from hardship with the same courage and hope that built this practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monarchbehavioral.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchbehavioral_tx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monarchbehavioralhealth.tx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-sharp-cogorno-ph-d-licensed-psychologist-4284a573/
