About Us

Our mission is to provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth, families, educators, and mental health professionals. 
PicturePhoto: Charming Photography
​Amy Cannava, Ed.S., NCSP,  is a veteran school psychologist who has come to specialize in working with LGBTQ+ youth.  Professionally, Amy is Chair of the NASP’s LGBTQI2-S Committee, a position selected by and approved by the President of NASP.  She consults with parents, works with at-risk students, and trains school districts and universities on creating inclusive environments and counseling LGBTQ+ youth.  Additionally, she consults with group homes and the juvenile justice system in maintaining safe and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth.  She has also been asked to work with local medical and mental health providers in creating affirming practices.  Amy routinely fields questions from school psychologists nationwide in working with this diverse group. She has been called on to provide expert testimony to both the Virginia House and Senate on proposed bans to end conversion therapy for minors.  Within the schools she has provided individual and group counseling to LGBTQ+ students for eight years.  She has co-authored guidance documents with NASP, HRC, The Trevor Project, and Gender Spectrum and been a consultant and invited panelist for HBO and PBS documentaries on trans* youth. Personally, Amy is former Vice President of PFLAG Winchester, where she facilitated one of PFLAG National's only sanctioned LGBTQ+ youth groups, and currently on the Board of NOVA Pride as a Youth Activities Director and Safe Space NOVA Manager of Social Activities and Social Support.  She is the community sponsor for NOVA Pride Prom, a cross-county event which encompasses education, compassion, celebration and action and garnered national attention during its first year. She mentors LGBTQ+ adolescents, and works with parents to better understand and support their children.  She served as a crisis counselor for The Trevor Project for two years. Amy is energized, humbled, and continually inspired by working with amazing queer and trans youth who give her tremendous hope of a better tomorrow.

Rainstorms to Rainbows is pleased to provide consultation, counseling (limited slots available), and professional development.  

Presentation Topics

  • ​Safe and Inclusive Schools
  • School-based Mental Health Services for LGBTQ+ Students
  • Intersectionality
  • Safe and Supportive Schools for Transgender Students
  • Parenting LGBTQ+ Youth
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Stress  
  • Crisis Intervention

Community Events
  • NOVA Pride Prom Community Sponsor (2016 - )
  • Expert Panel, Floyd County Pride (2016)
  • Crisis Counselor, The Trevor Project (2015-2017)
  • DC Ambassador, The Trevor Project (2016-2017)
  • LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care Presentations for UMFS (2017)
  • ​LGBTQ+ Inclusive Classroom Curricula for FCPS (2017)​
  • Rainbow Families Summer Conference (2020)
  • DCPS/CDC Leading with Pride (2017, 2018, 2019)

Consultation & Presentations

  • George Mason University Intern School Psychology Seminar
  • Lord Fairfax Community College
  • Shenandoah University (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • James Madison University
  • California State University
  • Fairfax County Public Schools
  • Frederick County Public Schools
  • Loudoun County Public Schools
  • Montgomery County Public Schools
  • Virginia Legislature
  • Press Conferences
  • NASP Annual Conventions (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
  • NASP Invited Presenter (2018, 2019)
  • HRC Time to Thrive Invited Presenter (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
  • VASP/VPA Annual Convention
  • School-Community United Partnership (SCUP, MD)
  • United Methodist Family Services (UMFS)
  • Texas Association of School Psychologists Fall Conference (2021)
  • Northwest Regional School Psychology Conference (2020)
  • Hawaii Association of School Psychologists Fall Conference (2019)
  • Illinois School Psychology Association Conference (2018)

Publications & Podcasts

Professional & Non-Profit Affiliations