LGBT therapists in Ventura, CA

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.

Making the decision to start therapy is a profound investment of your time, energy, and vulnerability. If you are looking for a blank-slate clinician who simply nods and listens, we might not be the best fit. I offer a highly engaged, malleable, and unflinching partnership.

My approach is rooted in the belief that while the work of untangling our lives is deeply structural, the room itself doesn't always have to feel heavy. I bring a grounded warmth to my practice—which means knowing how to sit quietly in the gravity of a difficult truth, but also knowing when to break the tension, exhale, and find the light in the sheer complexity of being human. I won’t just sit in silence while you do all the heavy lifting; I am an active collaborator who adapts to exactly where you are.

I am a caring and compassionate person who genuinely wants to help others. I

Seeking help can be the first step to acquire greater understanding and insight into our lives and relationships.

My goal with therapy is to provide a safe and open space to process and prioritize a growth mindset. I tailor my therapeutic approach to best match the needs of the client and truly believe in promoting acceptance. Some modalities I have experience with and may incorporate into therapy are Acceptance Compassion Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused, Client-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Here-and-now Counseling, Trauma-Informed, and Holistic. I have a passion for working with individuals who are looking to unpack complex emotions and experiences that have shaped their understanding of the world.

I have worked with adolescents, adults, and older adults as they work through life's challenges. I am client-centered with a trauma-informed lens, often leaving clients feeling heard, validated, and empowered to continue reaching their goals.

As someone who has worked as a clinician embedded in a law enforcement agency, I am acutely aware of the realities of first responders and the impact the work can have on the individual and their relationships.

I have a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), working in private practice as a Psychotherapist. I live in Los Angeles, and work in-person or hybrid, with adults, teens, couples and the aging population. I specialize in anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, work stress/dissatisfaction, career goals, sleep disorders, substance use, trauma (ptsd/complex/acute), obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD/OCPD), attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD). In addition I deal with grief, isolation, and breaking creative blocks.