New to Grow
I am Dr. Ann Dillard, a licensed marriage and family therapist. I am a relational and trauma-informed therapist specializing in mother–daughter relationships, attachment repair, and culturally grounded healing. My work centers on helping high-functioning women and adult daughters who feel successful on the outside but are internally burdened by anxiety, unresolved trauma, complex family dynamics, or betrayal wounds. Many of the women I serve have carried responsibility for years, often as the strong one, the peacemaker, or the overachiever. They may struggle with boundaries, emotional safety, or patterns that seem to repeat across generations. Together, we gently untangle those inherited narratives and relational patterns so you can understand not only what happened to you but also how they continue to live in your body and relationships today. My approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy. I integrate brain–body modalities such as Brainspotting, somatic therapies, attachment-based work, and parts-informed approaches to access healing at both the cognitive and subcortical levels. This allows us to work directly with the nervous system, where trauma, attachment injuries, and relational imprints are often stored. As a therapist and researcher, my doctoral work focused on culturally nuanced mother–daughter dynamics, particularly within Caribbean-American and cross-cultural contexts. I understand how culture, migration, faith, and generational expectations shape identity, attachment, and emotional expression. I provide a space where those complexities are honored rather than pathologized. My goal is for more than symptom reduction. It is a transformation. I help women move from survival patterns to relational clarity, from emotional reactivity to embodied stability, and from inherited scripts to authentic self-expression. Healing in my practice is intentional, grounded, and sustainable.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Your first session is a conversation, not an interrogation. We will move at a pace that feels safe and respectful to your nervous system. We’ll begin by discussing what brings you to therapy now and what you hope will change. I will ask thoughtful questions about your history, relationships, cultural context, and current stressors to understand the full picture. You do not need to have your story perfectly organized. You do not need to be “ready.” You simply need to show up. By the end of the first session, you can expect: A clear sense of whether we are a good fit Initial insight into patterns we may work on A collaborative direction for treatment Practical next steps Most importantly, you will leave feeling heard and grounded.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strength is my ability to see relational patterns clearly while holding deep compassion for the people inside them. I specialize in attachment repair and brain–body therapies, including Brainspotting, somatic approaches, IFS-informed work, and trauma-focused relational therapy. I work at both the cognitive and subcortical levels, helping clients move beyond insight into embodied healing. I bring over a decade of experience in mental health, cultural consultation, and relational systems work. My doctoral research focused on Caribbean-American mother–daughter attachment dynamics, giving me particular expertise in culturally complex family systems. Clients often tell me they feel deeply understood in ways they haven’t experienced before. I create a space that is both emotionally safe and clinically precise, where healing is intentional.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal clients are high-achieving women who look strong on the outside but feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted inside. Many are adult daughters navigating complicated relationships with their mothers, partners, or families of origin. They may struggle with anxiety, unresolved trauma, cultural or intergenerational pressures, betrayal wounds, or difficulty setting boundaries. You might be the “responsible one,” the caregiver, the peacekeeper, or the woman who carries everything for everyone else. You may be successful professionally, but privately question your worth, your voice, or your safety in relationships. I work best with women who are ready for depth. Women are willing to move beyond surface coping into real healing. Women are open to exploring how the body holds trauma and how attachment patterns shape present relationships. My clients are reflective, motivated, and ready to do meaningful inner work.
Brainspotting
I have been using Brainspotting since 2020 and am a Certified Brainspotting Consultant.
Strength-Based
I believe that clients have to power to heal themselves. I like to focus on their strengths as a valuable resource in the healing process.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
There are so many cultural intersections. I work with marginalized populations, including immigrants.
EMDR
My therapy practice is influenced by a variety of brain-body based modalities, including EMDR.
Faith based therapy
My faith is very important to me. If client would like to discuss from a faith perspective, I welcome the opportunity to do so.