About Me
Hi, I’m Anna.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, I provide psychotherapy to individual adults as well as children and teens who struggle with stress, life transitions, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, trauma, PTSD, or chronic pain.
I hold a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach and received training at the L.B. Trauma and Recovery Center and at Open Paths Counseling Center. With a B.A. in Social Work, I also bring a social justice lens to our work - vigilant of systems of power and conformity that can keep people stuck and unwell. Prior to working as a therapist, I lived and worked in a variety of different countries, such as the UK, Spain, and Germany where I was born and raised. Having lived abroad for the past twelve years, I have learned about the importance of staying open to a variety of therapeutic tools to fit my clients’ unique needs while valuing our universal search for acceptance and connectedness.
My Approach
Many clients reach out to me after noticing that “just talking” about their challenges did not seem to fully resolve them. While it is crucial to better understand and rewrite the limiting narratives that shape us, not all of our impactful past memories and experiences are entirely accessible through conversation only. The body remembers what the mind forgets. Thus as a therapist, I draw from mind-body modalities such as EMDR, somatic therapy, mindfulness, and psychodynamic talk therapy. I believe in transformation through safe connection. It is my hope that by working with me you will feel accepted and seen for who you are and who you want to become. Together with you, I want to explore and understand your unique story and find out what is needed for you to let go of what is holding you back, heal, grow, and reach your unique goals.
My Philosophy
We live in a society that teaches us to value confidence, independence, and high performance - sometimes to the detriment of our sense of belonging and self-worth. Almost daily we are bombarded with narrowly defined gender roles, stereotypes, and ‘rules’ around how we should act, look, think and feel. The price we pay as a society and as individuals is the trauma of not belonging: not feeling at home in our own bodies, not feeling connected to family, friends, communities and culture.
I believe in both our mind’s and our body’s innate ability to heal when provided with the right environment and resources. Mental health "symptoms" are our mind and body’s way of communicating that something is out of balance and that some kind of change is needed for us to be our best selves. My job as a therapist is to help you navigate life’s challenges, understand how prior stressors might still impact you and help you connect with the best version of yourself. If you think we might be a good match, reach out! I'd love to get to know you.
