Anne Dreese

Hi, I am Annie, a licensed therapist (LMFT) and certified perinatal mental health specialist (PMH-C) based in Santa Barbara. I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating some of life's most demanding seasons — from pregnancy and postpartum to birth trauma, early parenthood, life transitions, and healing from trauma. I completed my clinical training at UCSF's Infant Parent Program and bring specialized expertise in the parent-child relationship and early childhood alongside my broader work with adults. I am also a mom of two, which means I bring both clinical depth and real lived experience to this work.

My approach is grounded and practical — I believe good therapy gives you real tools, not just a space to vent. I draw on EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and attachment-based and psychodynamic approaches, tailoring the work to what each person actually needs. I have a particular passion for perinatal mental health and the science behind it: pregnancy and postpartum change the brain in ways that make lasting healing more possible than almost any other time in adult life. Whether you are in a hard season of early parenthood or navigating something else entirely, I will meet you where you are.

Our first session is a conversation, not an intake checklist. I want to understand what is bringing you in, what has and has not worked before, and what you are hoping life looks like on the other side of this. We will figure out together what you need and whether I am the right person to help you get there. You do not need to have it all sorted out before we meet — showing up is the hardest part, and I will take it from there.