annie dwyer, lmhcA (she/her)

Perhaps you’re reading this because you are struggling with depression or anxiety. Maybe you’re moving through a major life transition or reckoning with a recent loss or past trauma. Possibly you’re simply feeling “stuck.” Whatever brings you to therapy, I look forward to accompanying you on your journey. We will work in collaboration to achieve your goals for therapy, but overall, I see therapy as an opportunity to increase self-awareness, build resilience, and discover new ways to live in alignment with your deepest values.

In session, I aim to bear witness not only to your pain and difficulty but also to your unique gifts and strengths. As people are fundamentally shaped by their relationships with and attachments to other beings, I view our sessions as an important opportunity to practice being in relation. I strive to bring an authentic, compassionate, and sometimes playful presence to the hard work that we do together.

My approach to therapy

I work in person and virtually with adult individuals (18+) as well as couples. As a justice-oriented counselor, one of my central commitments is affirming your multiple, intersecting identities in session while helping you contend with the dynamics of power that shape your lived experiences outside of session. I have a particular interest in working with LGBTQIA+ clients who are exploring their identities and/or experiencing minority stress. I am also a climate-aware therapist, and I am committed to supporting clients who are experiencing difficult emotions related to the polycrisis.

I have an integrative approach that I will adapt to your needs. My core orientation has been centrally shaped by existentialism and other humanistic approaches. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Gottman Therapy. Overall, I see therapy as partly an imaginative foray into a desired way of being in the world, and partly the nitty gritty work of repairing old wounds, changing unhelpful patterns, uncovering untapped resources, and building new skills to help you realize your vision.

Outside of the therapy room, I’m a wayward academic, climate activist, and kitty whisperer. I love the outdoors, I devour both good food and good books, and I think puppets are marvelous.

Areas of focus

Education and training

  • Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Seattle University

  • PhD in English from University of Washington

Credentials

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (#MC70024633)

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