Anela McFarland

Thanks for visiting my page, I am glad you are here. I’ve spent more than 15 years supporting individuals of all ages and families through life’s toughest and most meaningful transitions. I specialize in trauma, grief, maternal mental health, postpartum support, anxiety, and life challenges. As a long time school social worker, I also love working with teens, young adults, and parents navigating stress, anxiety, identity, impulse control, ADHD, and the emotional impact of today’s digital world—including screen use overwhelm.

A lot of the people I work with describe feeling like they’ve been “holding everything together” but falling through the cracks themselves. Whether you’re a new parent, a caregiver, a teenager struggling to find direction, or someone facing loss or major change—you don’t have to do this alone.

My style is warm, grounded, and collaborative. I use a mix of trauma-informed care, mindfulness practices, and practical strategies to help you build emotional regulation, self-awareness, and healthier patterns. Therapy with me is a space where you get to slow down, breathe, express what’s really been going on, and start reconnecting with the parts of yourself that may have been buried by stress or survival mode.

My clinical background includes years of working in the Rochester City School District with K–12 students, supporting families facing systemic barriers, health disparities, and community trauma. That experience taught me that everyone deserves support that feels culturally aware, validating, and compassionate—not clinical or cold.

Our first consult will feel like a conversation—not an interview. I’ll ask questions to understand what you’ve been carrying, what support you’re hoping for, and what you need to feel safe and understood here. From there, we’ll build a plan together—your pace, your goals, your voice. My role isn’t to fix you—it’s to help you feel supported, seen, and strengthened as you grow.

A little about me personally: I’m a wife, mom of two daughters, and a son and deeply family-oriented, proudly born and raised in Rochester. When I’m not working, you’ll probably find me spending time with my big family, listening to R&B or reggae. Music, culture, and connection are grounding forces in my life—and they often find their way into my work in meaningful ways.

If you're ready to feel supported, heard, and guided—not judged—I’d be honored to walk with you through this chapter.