Education
Amy Makice, LCSW is a seasoned relational-cultural therapist, clinical supervisor, and trainer based in Bloomington, Indiana. As the founder of the Bloomington Center for Connection, Amy has dedicated her career to promoting healing and meaningful change through growth-fostering relationships. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Tulane University in 1995, launching a lifelong commitment to relational well-being and social justice.
Relational-Cultural Theory
With advanced training in Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), Amy is passionate about sharing RCT’s transformative principles through clinical supervision, workshops, and training for therapists, organizations, and communities. She has had the privilege and honor of presenting alongside esteemed RCT scholars Dr. Maureen Walker, Dr. Amy Banks, Dr. Dolores Finger Wright, and Dr. Meenaxi Palaniappan including at the 2024 Relational Summit: Playful Connections in Bloomington, Indiana. Her collaborations and contributions to the field underscore her commitment to bridging theory and practice, empowering therapists to create environments of mutuality, authenticity, and compassion.
Amy has also presented at notable events, including the Aurora University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Speaker Series, where she led a session titled Walking the Talk of Relational-Cultural Theory: Courageous Connections Promoting Equity. Additionally, she contributed to the International Center for Growth in Connection Colloquia, with presentations such as Lessons from the Pandemic: Challenges and Benefits of Virtual Therapy and Pretend You’re Good at It. These engagements reflect her expertise in applying RCT principles to diverse clinical and community contexts.
Supervision
As a clinical supervisor, Amy is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of therapists through RCT-informed supervision and guidance. She co-facilitates the Psychotherapy Affinity Group with the International Center for Growth in Connection and has led workshops on a range of topics, from the ethics of self-care to using RCT in social justice work. Amy’s consulting services extend RCT’s principles to organizations seeking to build deeper, more equitable connections within their teams.
Therapy
In her therapy practice, Amy creates spaces where clients, families, groups, and therapists can engage in courageous vulnerability, fostering the kind of world where love, authenticity, and growth thrive. She believes that therapy is not just a path to individual healing but a microcosm of societal change, where connection challenges isolation and dismantles the bonds of pain, shame, and oppression.
Amy remains committed to lifelong learning and advocacy, particularly in support of marginalized communities. She approaches this work with humility, recognizing that creating a more just and connected world is an ongoing, relational process.
Services
Amy offers a wide range of therapeutic services, including:
- Individual Therapy: Amy provides trauma-responsive therapy for all ages. Her approaches and trainings include
- Advanced Relational-Cultural Therapy
- Family Relational Intensives for families of all shapes and sizes
- Sand Tray therapy
- Intergenerational family relational intensives
- Relational Group Experiences
- Clinical Supervision: As the clinical supervisor of the Bloomington Center for Connection (BCC), Amy ensures that all therapists under her guidance are equipped with the skills and support they need to provide evidence-based, growth-fostering therapy. She finds great joy in witnessing the growth and development of fellow therapists.
- Consulting: Amy also offers consulting services for businesses and organizations that aim to foster deeper, more equitable connections within their teams.
Invitation
Amy invites you to embark on a transformative journey of connection, growth, and empowerment. She believes that healing begins with slowing down and being present, and that together, within the context of a growth-fostering relationship, it is possible to transform trauma, hurt, and fear.
