Amanda Marino is a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction recovery; she has dedicated her life to supporting individuals and families through some of their most challenging moments.
After building an extensive entertainment background since childhood, Amanda stepped comfortably into a job that merged her experience as an on-camera personality with her deep commitment to helping others.
As a certified interventionist and coach, Amanda brings that unique perspective to her work on the A&E series Intervention, not just to create pathways for individuals to recover but to talk about all of the nuances of addiction and mental health issues.
In this Q&A, Amanda discusses her journey, the impact of her work, and the values that drive her mission to change lives.
Q: How did it feel to be featured on A&E’s “Intervention,” and what was your initial reaction when you were approached to participate in the show?
A: It was a dream of mine for 15-plus years. I was in entertainment on and off from age 4-22, modeling, acting, and hip-hop dancing professionally. My dream on my healing journey was to work back on camera and help people as a woman of substance. When I discovered that I would work on the show, it was such a happy moment and a dream come true.
Q: What unique challenges did you face in the filmed episodes, and how did you and your team overcome them?
A: We dealt with couples and their families, which brought many challenges. There is hatred, damage caused by addiction, trauma, and a lot of emotions. We worked with some challenging and complex cases of late-stage addiction. There was one episode where safety was a concern, and we always had two security professionals with us.
Q: What moment in your life made you decide to work in mental health and addiction recovery?
A: My family life, personal experience, and wanting to help people struggling alone in silence live a better way. Sometimes, people don’t know that there are other options, and if somebody passes by the show or a piece of my social media and has a drop of hope that they could live a different life, then my mission is complete.
Q: How do your personal experiences shape the way you help others?
A: My personal experience with childhood trauma, domestic violence, and witnessing an abduction as a child gave me a handicap in life. I allowed this to propel me to continue to hurt myself over and over again for many years until one day. I woke up and decided that was not going to be my story.
Everything I’ve gone through and everything I continue to go through in my healing journey helps me to be there for someone else who thinks they’re the only one hurting and that no one understands them. You’re not alone, no matter what.
Q: What advice would you give to someone struggling with addiction or mental health issues who feels hopeless?
There are so many people who feel that way and have felt that way, so you’re not alone. Even if you take one small action today to help yourself, that is amazing. You can heal, and you can live a good life.
Q: What innovative therapies does Next Level Recovery offer that differentiates it from other intervention/ case management companies?
A: We meet people where they are. We don’t believe in a black-and-white mentality. We believe everyone is an individual and has their path. For each consultation, we develop a customized plan that includes a variety of professionals we refer to. We are strong with communication, and we don’t dictate care over the professionals with whom they will do the treatment.
Q: What do you hope to achieve in the mental health and addiction recovery field in the next five years?
A: I hope to add to the healing part of the field and to make higher standards for clients and families that we work with. I just hope to continue to grow and help more people.
Amanda’s ability to connect with people, understand their struggles, and guide them toward a better life proves her strength and empathy. Amanda has become the personification of hope for those who feel lost in the darkness of addiction.
Her impact extends beyond the screen as she inspires, supports, and changes lives with her expertise and heart.
To learn more about Amanda Marino, click here.
