Ann Thiessen, MHC-LP
As a graduate of New York University’s Mental Health Counseling program, I am a dedicated and compassionate clinician committed to creating a safe, empathetic, and empowering space for individuals, adolescents, families, and couples. My therapeutic approach is grounded in honoring each client’s unique identity and supporting them in discovering and expressing their voice—a journey I am deeply honored to share. In addition to my clinical training, I bring lived experience as a transracial adoptive parent and former foster parent, which informs my practice with a nuanced understanding of identity, attachment, and family dynamics. These perspectives enhance my ability to connect with clients by navigating complex relational and systemic challenges.
With extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups, I am a trauma-informed mental health counselor dedicated to helping clients navigate their unique paths to healing and growth. My integrative approach draws from a wide range of evidence-based modalities—including attachment theory, psychodynamic, emotion regulation, family systems, somatic practices, narrative therapy, person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based techniques—allowing me to tailor treatment to each individual’s needs and lived experience. I also have specialized training in the Gottman Method, completed under the guidance of Giulia Preziuso, LMHC, which enhances my work with couples by providing research-based tools to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and foster deeper emotional connection.
In addition to my clinical work, I hold certifications as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL), both awarded by PATH International. With experience supporting individuals of all abilities, I aspire to integrate equine-assisted therapy into my practice one day as a powerful modality for emotional connection and healing. I am also a certified Usui Reiki Master, which allows me to incorporate energy-based techniques when appropriate. These complementary disciplines inform my holistic, trauma-sensitive lens—recognizing that healing is not a one-size-fits-all process, but rather a dynamic and deeply personal journey.
My areas of expertise include trauma, attachment, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, behavioral challenges, interpersonal dynamics, adoption, foster care, academic stressors among students, the unique pressures faced by athletes, and the emotional complexities experienced by siblings and caregivers of individuals with disabilities.
I am deeply committed to creating a safe, empathetic, and empowering space where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported. Guided by the belief that healing begins when we open our hearts—as Haruki Murakami beautifully expressed, “What happens when people open their hearts? They get better”—I strive to be a compassionate presence in each client’s journey. My goal is to help individuals uncover their voice, embrace their inner strength, and step into a path of growth and healing.