LMHC, 3 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi! My name is Anna and I am a licensed mental health counselor. It is my passion and joy to walk alongside people and watch them overcome and find freedom mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! Each client is a gift and I am always humbled to be permitted to be part of each sacred journey. I started out my counseling journey working at a non-profit private practice. Then I began counseling in community mental health center where I still work with people who battle addictions, PTSD, personality and mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and other challenges. I enjoy individual and group work with people in all different stages of life and from diverse walks of life who need someone to help them find hope and healing.
During our first session, I will tell you about myself so that going forward you are not talking to a complete stranger. Then, I will ask you some questions to get to know you and discuss your goals for counseling. We will go over some basic information about what to expect from counseling and how to get the most out of it. Think of it like an orientation to see if you want to move forward with counseling and if wee feel like we are a good fit to work together.
My therapeutic approach draws from several disciplines with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, Trauma-Informed Care, being just a few. I draw the most from cognitive behavioral and from a Biblical perspective that is nonjudgmental and caring. Why do I draw from more than one discipline? Because every person is unique and will connect better with some approaches more than others. Also, the approach can be tailored to what you want to work on. The results are encouraging for clients who have regular, consistent appointments (typically every week) and invest in working on themselves. I will listen to you and provide feedback. We will have some check-ins periodically to see if you are getting what you need and moving forward and if there are any barriers we need to address. I can be very serious and am not afraid to tell you the truth and other times a good sense of humor releases more healing! I get to see people find freedom everyday and actually meet goals they didn't think they could. I see people change their relationships and find space to heal from grief. I will encourage you to stick with the process because nothing we want happens fast or easy. It does require work but it sure is worth it!
I truly love working with clients in all adult stages of life who want to grow beyond where they are. Clients who choose to work on themselves throughout the week between our sessions will get the most out of their counseling experience. I work with clients from all different worldviews, but my orientation comes from a Biblical perspective and I enjoy helping clients who wish to make this a part of their therapy to grow in their faith. What issues can you work on with me? Anything that is causing you mental or emotional pain, getting in the way of you having healthy relationships, or keeping you stuck in life. The clients I most frequently serve come because of relationship problems, anxiety, depression, and addiction. I also tend to see a lot of clients who are experiencing major transitions in life (career or job, moving) or dealing with grief and loss. If you are unsure if we are a good fit for what you want to work on, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask.
I counsel from a Christian, Biblical perspective. Clients who wish to make this an intentional part of their therapy will benefit from this. Clients who come from different perspectives also benefit from my counseling.
I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients obtain practical skills for changing behavior and thinking which impacts emotions.
I want you to know that whatever you share in therapy, you will not be met with judgment but with empathy. I believe that every person has inherent value and worth. I want every client to feel safe and valued. While maintaining appropriate professionalism, I also like to reassure my clients that therapists are regular people too and that I am here to come alongside and support my clients.
Grief is a common human experience, but can make one feel so lost and alone. If you are grieving, I have some tools that may be helpful for you and would be happy to support you.
Sometimes when my clients are facing difficult transitions in life or decisions, they find out that they are very capable of making their own decision based on their values but they just need someone to ask helpful questions so they can process aloud and come to their own conclusions. I have received training in motivational interviewing and found that it is a very helpful tool!