LCSW, 4 years of experience
Welcome! My name is Anna Porcalla. I received my Master of Social Work from San Jose State and have been helping individuals in therapeutic settings for four years. I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment that allows clients to explore obstacles with concerns related to anxiety, depression, and/or self-care. I focus on helping clients develop assertive communication & boundaries with themselves and those around them that can help improve their quality of life. Counseling can foster personal development in whatever way you may be seeking and help build the life you so deeply deserve. If that's what you're looking for, I'm here when you're ready to share.
Together, we will identify your challenges and goals—where you want your life to be a month, six months, or a year from now. Then, we'll identify options and strategies you can use to get there. You'll leave the session with a better understanding of what you're facing and an "actions I can take right now" approach. There will always be room for suggestions concerning our work together, including keeping each other accountable.
My greatest strengths include my ability to create a safe, non-judgmental space for clients, fostering genuine connection and empathy. I'm skilled at guiding clients toward improved functioning and efficacy through skillful questioning, providing coping skills, and offering knowledge about their mental health. My approach is adaptable, meeting each client where they are and embracing diverse backgrounds and experiences.
I look forward to supporting individuals who are motivated to create positive change in their lives, willing to engage in the therapeutic process, and seeking a supportive and non-judgmental space to explore their feelings and challenges. They are often driven by a desire for personal growth, increased self-awareness, and a more fulfilling, balanced life.
I have been using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for four years now. I find it helpful to my clients as it is a type of therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that can lead to distress or mental health challenges. It's a practical, structured, and goal-oriented approach that can be used to address a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
I have worked with narrative therapy as a complementary framework to evidence-based models like CBT and motivational interviewing. What I value most about narrative therapy is how it shifts the focus from “the problem being inside the person” to “the problem being separate from the person.” This allows clients to reclaim authorship of their own stories, which can be particularly empowering for those who have internalized negative self-beliefs from trauma, stigma, or difficult life experiences.
In my work as a therapist, I consistently use motivational interviewing (MI) because I find it one of the most respectful and empowering approaches for clients who are feeling stuck or ambivalent about making changes. Many of the people I work with struggle with mixed feelings around substance use, mood regulation, or lifestyle habits. MI allows me to meet them exactly where they are—without judgment—and support them in finding their own voice, values, and motivation for change.
In my work as a therapist, I often lean into psychodynamic therapy because it creates a safe space for clients to gently explore how past experiences and relationships shape their present struggles. I’ve seen how empowering it can be when clients recognize that their patterns of thought, emotion, or behavior are understandable responses to earlier life experiences. This approach allows us to honor their story with compassion while also creating new possibilities for growth and healing.
I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy because it helps clients shift from feeling stuck in problems to imagining what life could look like if things were better. Instead of staying in the past, this approach looks for possibilities, strengths, and hope. Clients often find it refreshing and empowering because it focuses on what’s working and what can change, rather than only on what’s wrong.