Hi there! There are a variety of reasons that people take the daunting first step to reach out to a counselor, and I am so glad you did. Maybe you find yourself feeling stuck, disconnected, or struggling to find enjoyment in your day to day life. Maybe you’re tired of fighting with your partner and “missing” each other with your communication. Maybe you’re coping with past trauma, worry about the future, grief, or anxiety. It could even be that something just feels “off” with you. Whatever the reason, I am here to support you in that journey.
We’ll focus on the experiences that got you to where you are today, what you value most, how you relate to important people in your life, and finding a sense of peace as you align your life with your values. As you deepen your self-knowledge and strengthen your connection with yourself and others, we’ll also build coping skills and resilience for working through past trauma or living with the less-than-perfect moments we each experience in life. Along the way, we’ll trust the signs your body is telling you and name the emotions that come up, allowing you to communicate your feelings, desires, needs, and boundaries in your relationships with other people.
Therapy is for everyone, and I think it’s important to know that it’s normal and it’s courageous to seek a trained, listening ear. I started my own transformative counseling journey years ago while working with a compassionate, attachment-focused therapist. I moved from a sense of being anxious, “stuck,” and rigid in my ways while working through past trauma, to more freedom and confidence in choosing my own path. Counseling was incredibly empowering and freeing for me, and I believe it can be for you too.
Education & Experience:
In terms of my background, I am a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marymount University. I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Davidson College in North Carolina. My pre-counseling career included 5 years working for a Big Four consulting firm, and 5 years leading government teams that advised executives on complex strategic initiatives. As much as I liked my work, I found myself most passionate about mentoring my staff, helping others grow, listening as people walked through difficult situations, and serving other employees as an Employee Assistance Program peer. After counseling freed me to ask myself what I really wanted, I knew it was time to transition full-time to a counselor role.
From my experiences, I bring not only a passion for mental health, but also a personal understanding of sustaining a high-pressure career while balancing multiple responsibilities. If you’re struggling with perfectionism, impostor syndrome, balancing what feels like an impossible load, and overwhelm – I am here for you!
Approach:
Drawing from attachment theory, family systems theory, and some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) practices, I work with adults, individuals, and couples on issues of anxiety, depression, relationships, life transitions, and perfectionism. I have an attachment-based perspective, meaning that I believe that many of our experiences in life are shaped by our relationships and our level of connection and trust with other people. We can focus both on what is happening in the here and now, as well as the experiences that got you to where you are. If you are someone who would like to integrate your faith or spiritual beliefs into our conversations, that can also be a healing component of our sessions. I work under the supervision of Isabel Kirk, LPC and Andreea Solfavi, LPC.
Annie sees clients in person in Falls Church and also offers teletherapy/online sessions.
