Ann Benson

"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth." ~ African proverb

I believe all of us need a village of warm, good-enough relationships in order to thrive — and that while trauma often happens in relationships, deep healing happens through secure ones. That belief shapes everything about how I work. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade devoted to trauma and attachment. My master's at Washington University focused on treating trauma in children and adolescents, and I work with individuals, families, and adoptive and foster families navigating trauma, PTSD, grief, depression, and the attachment wounds that can make connection itself feel unsafe. I also offer an affirming space for LGBTQ+ clients and families. I've been trained in many models and certified in several: I draw most often on Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Brainspotting, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and I'm certified in Trauma-Focused CBT, Training for Adoption Competency, and Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, with further training in Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma, sandtray, and Motivational Interviewing.

I try to understand your life story, your beliefs, and your values. I work to understand how your present differs from your ideal future, and then we figure out together what will actually move you toward it. The "how" is as individualized as the goals themselves — as a therapist with a trauma and attachment focus, I organize the work around your needs rather than trying to fit you into a particular modality. In practice that means some clients do Brainspotting, some families do PCIT or Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, and sometimes the work is simply talking, at whatever pace keeps you feeling safe.

You can expect a warm presence and an inviting space. My hope is that you feel safe enough to begin sharing your story and exploring the parts that need support — and I won't rush that. We'll talk about what brought you here and what you're hoping will change, and I'll ask questions to understand the context around it, not just the problem itself. There's no pressure to share more than feels comfortable, and no need to have anything figured out beforehand. Safety comes first; everything else follows from it.