"Grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference."
Hello and thank you for taking a minute to read my bio. Beginning therapy is a huge step towards making changes and taking care of yourself- and you've taken that step! I'm Anna (she, her, hers) and I am a licensed psychotherapist focusing on holistic and integrative therapy. I believe that the connection between our mind, body and soul (or heart or spirit or essence) is the strongest and most important connection we can have in this life. I love to help people find and strengthen this connection within themselves, leading to stronger connections within their world.
I love working with...
As a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT) and Certified Nutrition Consultant (NC), I encourage my clients to live creatively, healthfully, inquisitively, and holistically, supporting them in becoming their best, most creative, healthy, and vibrant selves. I view each individual as a whole and believe in the synchronicity between healing the mind and the body. As both an LMFT and NC, my focus in sessions is on mental health, specific nutrition, stress management, and solution-focused strategies to help my clients achieve their mental health goals.
I am dedicated to treating and interacting with clients integratively and holistically. As a psychotherapist, there are many different ways to support and help clients reach their full potential. By combining solution-focused psychotherapy, stress management, and nutrition, I can work with my clients on a deeper level and address their holistic and integrative living needs. My approach focuses on treating the whole person and identifying the root causes of mental health issues rather than just treating the symptoms. I believe that mental and emotional health are vital components of overall wellness, and I provide an environment that supports this philosophy.
I have been licensed since 2009 and have extensive experience with adolescents, individuals, and active-duty service members and their families. I enjoy working with individuals on areas of identity, specifically LGBTQIA and adjustment to phases of life, as well as adolescents and young adults and both active duty and retired service members. While I am a solution-focused therapist, the theoretical orientation must fit the client and utilize a combination of solution-focused interventions, CBT, brief therapy, and client-centered therapy. I am constantly honored when clients share their lives and struggles with me. I am passionate about partnering with my clients on their path to personal wellness, whatever that looks like to them.
Some of my favorite approaches include...
Utilizing my understanding of holistic nutrition, I help clients learn the connection between nutrition and mental health, exploring how specific foods they are or are not eating may be directly or indirectly affecting their mental health symptoms. Clients can benefit from exploring how food and mood are related, the role our gut health plays and connection that food/ nutrition has on both overall mental wellness, along with specific symptoms like anxiety and depression.
As a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP), I work with my clients to integrate safe, effective and evidence-based holistic approaches to help them achieve optimal health and wellness while preventing and treating common mental health problems. Some of the approaches, along with psychotherapy, that I may use with clients are exploring how nutrition and nutrient deficiencies can affect mood and mental health, conducting food- mood assessments, exploring how various foods, recipes, mindfulness exercises and breathing techniques can support mental health, exploring how an individual's circadian rhythm/ sleep cycle may contribute to their mental health, and exploring the possible benefits of complementary and alternative medicines in the treatment of mental health issues.
I enjoy working with individuals on areas of identity, specifically LGBTQIA and adjustment to phases of life, as well as adolescents and young adults and both active duty and retired service members.
How I help...
I believe that therapy is most beneficial when the client feels comfortable, supported and connected to their therapist. I believe connection is the most important aspect in our lives- connection to ourselves and others. I am very client-centered, meeting each individual where they are and seeing each client as the expert of themselves. I am genuine, and expressive, and support my clients in feeling safe to be the same.
I believe...
I believe that you are the expert of yourself and your life. I believe that change is possible. I believe that integrating the various aspects of ourselves- emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually can help strengthen the connection within ourselves and to the world around us.