Our Mission
Equip the entertainment industry with best practices to inspire exceptional storytelling.
Our Values
Accessible, Consent-Based, Ethically Driven
Amanda M. Edwards
Co-Founder
Amanda M. Edwards (she/her) was born into the world of music, dance, and theatre thanks to parents in the performing arts.
Having spent most of her childhood in the studios of New Jersey Ballet, her parents’ decision to relocate to Colorado inspired new love of musical theater and unconventional venues (Shakespeare Festivals on 16th Street Mall, anyone?).
Amanda studied dance, theater, choreography and education while appearing onstage at the Oriental Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
While in college, Amanda pursued mental healthcare, obtaining a Masters of Science degree in Counseling and becoming a Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher specializing in Somatic and Attachment healing with attunement to the Autonomic Nervous System.
In 2020, Amanda decided to unite her love of acting and choreography with her expertise in trauma, somatic awareness, the body and its boundaries, and client advocacy to embrace the new role of Intimacy Coordinator and then pioneering and defining the role of Mental Health Coordinator for film. She is also proud to serve her community on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Film and Video Association.
Amanda’s training in Mental Health and Intimacy Coordination is International and she’s learned from some of the most highly regarded pioneers in the field. Her passion for the work has her collaborating with productions across all genres, platforms, and budgets as she believes firmly that every production which requires Mental Health or Intimacy Coordination absolutely deserves to have that support.
She still serves clients with trauma and other mental health conditions in her private practice located in Parker, Colorado in between productions on-location across the country.
Bridget McCarthy
Co-Founder
Bridget McCarthy (she/they) is an artist, advocate, and a mental health coordinator for theatre, TV and Film. She is a Trauma and Resilience Trainer (CTRT), a Certified Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) with Trauma Institute International, a Certified Mental Health First Aid instructor with the National Council for Behavioral Health, and is currently training with the North American Drama Therapy Association as a Drama Therapist candidate, as well as pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at New England College. Her solo work has centered around programming that amplifies under-heard voices, including time spent as a staff member and facilitator with Shakespeare Behind Bars. In 2020, they were recognized by Young Nonprofit Professionals of Atlanta as a member of their “30 Under 30” Cohort.
As an actor, Bridget is an artistic associate of Stage Door Theatre, and is seen frequently on stages around her beloved chosen home of Atlanta, GA. They have also been on the stages of Atlanta Shakespeare, Synchronicity Theatre, Burning Bones Physical Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Essential Theatre, and Georgia Ensemble Theatre. Nationally, Bridget has appeared with Cincinnati Shakespeare, Elm Shakespeare, Pigeon Creek Shakespeare, and many others. Their original solo show, “Fat Juliet” has toured nationally and features Bridget’s love of stand up comedy, Shakespere, AC/DC, and the Lion King.
Bridget lives in Atlanta, GA with her wonderful partner, Joey, and can be found kayaking or hiking with her rescue dog, Oberon.
Our Story
The Association of Mental Health Coordinators (AMHC) was founded in 2022 by Amanda Edwards and Bridget McCarthy. AMHC seeks to be a global network of entertainment and mental health professionals, who are working to change the narrative about mental health in the arts by offering support, training, and standards to the industry. Specializing in recorded performance (TV/Film) and live performance (theatre, dance, and music), mental health coordinators partner with artists and producing organizations of all sizes to equip their spaces with best practices and tools to support their best work.
Acknowledgement: People have been doing this work for a long time without acknowledgement, recognition, appreciation, or fancy certifications. We are grateful to those who do this work and those who have come before to start the conversation. We humbly honor you and your teachings and will always welcome your feedback.
Portfolio
Theatre
- Shakespeare and Company (Lenox, MA)
- Training the education department in best practices for supporting students ages 7-18 active in their summer programming
- Great River Shakespeare (Minneapolis, MN)
- Extensive one on one work with artists to support mental wellness for the season, policy support
- Alliance Theatre (Atlanta, GA)
- Training to support 50 educational artists in their pursuit of trauma informed theatrical pedagogy.
- Island Shakespeare Festival (Seattle, WA)
- Stage Door Theatre (Atlanta, GA)
- Intimacy direction, mental health direction, policy support
- Denver Fringe Festival (Denver, CO)
- Greater Boston Stage Company (Stoneham, MA)
- Training staff in trauma-sensitive practices
- Intimacy Consultation for summer youth program
“Amanda, from the moment I signed onto the film, was there to explain everything. She not only cares about how you feel throughout intimate scenes, but any scenes that may be difficult and draining. She made the entire cast and crew feel safe, cared for, and heard. It was an absolute honor to work with her!”
