Anna Borell

THERAPEUTIC PHILOSOPHY To me, therapy is at its core a space for us to show up as we are, wherever we are. As a collaborative effort, I strive to help clients discover who they are as their most authentic, whole selves. This requires getting curious about the patterns in our lives, accepting and seeking to understand all the parts of our selves we often try to avoid or fix (depression, anxiety), deconstructing the many systems that influence how we see ourselves, others and the world, and unlearning what no longer serves us. I come from a perspective that everyone has trauma, whether that's from an imperfect childhood, a singular traumatic event, and/or the systemic effects of our deeply flawed society. As a result, we get stuck in "survival mode," and learn to suppress deeper wounds that are begging for our attention and care. Rather than focus on the surface level symptoms and quick-fixes, I am interested in working with individuals who are ready to get to the root and committed to a process that can take time, is non-linear, and requires honesty and courage. My job is to create a space that feels safe enough to do so. With core values grounded in humor, authenticity, and compassion, I am here to help clients connect to their innate ability to heal, feel empowered to make meaningful change, and ultimately feel at home within themselves. COMPETENCIES I use a holistic, non-pathologizing approach to therapy rooted in relational, contemplative, systemic, and attachment modalities. I also am trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitizaton & reprocessing) to target and heal from post-traumatic stress. A LITTLE ABOUT ME I graduated with my BA in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College in MN and then completed my MA in Counseling and Psychological Services at Saint Mary's University, MN. I have worked as a mental health professional since 2011 and as a psychotherapist since 2020. I live a slow, homebody life in Carver, MN with my husband, two rescue pups and cat. I love spending my time in nature, updating and decorating our 1860 home, camping and backpacking out west in the summers with friends, and volunteering as an animal rights activist. If I seem like the right fit for you, I'd love to meet you and hear your story.