Amanda O'Bryan

Amanda is a certified wellness coach and specializes in using evidence-based practices to empower her clients to shift the ways that stress and anxiety impact their lives.

She also works as a freelance writer, creating psychoeducational content. Her goal with writing is to help people understand themselves better by presenting cognitive science in a fun and interesting way.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer and coach, Amanda worked as a psychology professor. She earned her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 2012 and brings that knowledge of human behavior and the brain to her work. She is also trained in several meditation modalities and volunteers as a meditation teacher to individuals in addiction recovery.

Work Experience

• April 2021-present – Mental Health Coach at Lyra Health
• 2019-present – Wellness Writer
• 2016-present – Meditation Teacher
• 2015-2018 – Psychology Professor at Bellarmine University
• 2012-2015 – Psychology Professor at JCTC

First- and Second-Author Publications

• Wightman, F. L., Kistler, D. J., O’Bryan, A. (2010). Individual differences and age effects in a dichotic informational masking paradigm. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 128, 270-279.
• Regular psychology writer for Medium.

Education & Degrees

• 2012 – Ph.D. Experimental Psychology – University of Louisville, Kentucky
• 2010 – MA Experimental Psychology – University of Louisville, Kentucky
• 1999 – BS Psychology – College of Charleston, South Carolina
• 2018 – Certified Wellness Coach
• 2016 – Koru Mindfulness Certification
• 2015 – MBSR training

A Personal Message From Amanda

I believe that people always have the power to change, whether it’s their story, their behavior or their beliefs about themselves. And it is my fervent hope that the field of Psychology is an agent to empower positive change in both the individual and society at large. I’ve connected to the field as a teacher, researcher, clinician and coach, each time with this intention towards service of a greater humanity. I am forever fascinated by people and will be a lifelong student.

Why Should You Trust What Amanda Writes?

Whether through teaching, researching, learning, or application, Amanda has been involved in the field of Psychology for over 20 years. She believes in both the impact of peer-reviewed research as well as the importance of lived experiences, and strives to be inclusive in her work with open thinking.