Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna White.
Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Even as an adolescent doing afterschool jobs and vocational classes in childcare, I have always found meaning and purpose in providing emotional support to others. That does not mean I knew much about what a therapist even was back then, but I did realize I could see someone alone with a feeling and help them be not alone with that feeling. It became the most powerful thing I knew! Over time I said yes to more and more opportunities to be there for others, taking jobs in therapeutic settings and getting a degree in psychology. I also went to therapy myself, sometimes having a helpful experience and sometimes not so much.
My journey took me through graduate school to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. As I studied family and community systems, I often felt quite grateful for my experiences helping others, receiving both medical and mental healthcare, and being disabled. This experience allowed me to always think critically about the theories and information I was being given so that I could use them in the ways that would truly be most helpful to my clients. After all, while I am very privileged to have the information and foundation gained in school and through my continued training, there is no substitute for first and foremost listening to what my clients know about themselves, their situations, and their families and communities. Over the years I have had the honor of accompanying people caring for themselves, their relationships, and their community even in the face of both personal setbacks and structural barriers, reinforcing all the time that our mental well-being is anything but individual. It is by being with them and hearing their stories, both in community mental health and private practice, that I have become the therapist I am today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the hardest parts about feeling genuine care for someone is having a barrier in the way of being there for them. Throughout my career I have been excited to learn everything I can and support as many people as I can, but a short few years in, my chronic health issues unfortunately progressed. I was unable to take on as much as I would like and recognized that if I did not make changes soon, I would not be able to help anyone. It was time to practice what I was preaching, and as difficult as it was, I transitioned to a pace and setting where I could both serve others and respect my body’s boundaries.
Living this transition and everything that followed continually humbled me and furthered my solidarity with my many clients who had to make similar difficult decisions. The limits our bodies set in our lives of course come with sadness, grief, and frustration. They are not things we can wish away with positive thinking or mindfulness and they must be included in how we care for ourselves and others. In the same breath, those limits fuel the endless creativity and ingenuity of disabled communities as we, by necessity, experiment to make life more sustainable for everyone. It will always be truly special that I have the honor of accompanying my clients as we together hold both this grief and possibility.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Capital Crescent Collective?
At Capital Crescent Collective, our roots and our mission are one and the same. Our therapists, trained at UMD’s School of Public Health in Couple and Family Therapy, have spent our entire careers focused on the systems that inform our well-being. We have a deep understanding of not only family systems, but also community systems, that allows us to see our clients (whether individuals, families, or couples) in context, not isolation. Instead of seeing a problem as just yours to feel and solve, we help you tend to all the relationships and systems connected to your concerns so that you can see deeper and more lasting change.
Since our start, we have been passionate about building a team with diverse specialties and experience so that we can serve many teens, adults, families, and couples in many ways. The burden of finding and trusting a new practice for each support your family needs adds barriers to care that do not need to be there, especially when those support needs are related and impact each other. In recent years we have been thrilled to continue expanding our ability to provide holistic care by partnering with affiliate wellness providers. These include prescribers, integrative medicine providers, massage therapists, and coaches. It has been a matter of pride that we continue to hear what our clients tell us they need and do our best to make it available!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Continued learning about psychology, disability theory, and community will always be a passion of mine and the basis of my work – but I am not all work. I also enjoy immersing myself in many kinds of learning and hobbies including baking, gardening, sewing, and even video games – and meeting all kinds of people through them! Not only do these pursuits keep me fulfilled as a person, they also give me perspective, keep me grounded in life, and give me points of connection with my clients.
Pricing:
- Our therapists’ fees range from $185 to $195 per 50 minute session.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
https://julienapearphotography.com/
