Anna N. Valianos

I believe we all find ways to survive the overwhelming circumstances in our lives. Sometimes these ways of surviving the past become issues in the present -- we might feel lost, alone, powerless, and stuck. Even if we want to change, the fear and discomfort may seem like too much to bear. My philosophy is that through relationships built on trust and validation, we can begin to venture into the unknown to acknowledge and grieve the past while exploring possibilities for change in the present. I provide individual, family, and group therapy for adults. Typical concerns of the individuals I work with include managing the effects of traumatic experiences, relationship issues, intense emotions, and grief. Areas of special focus include working with survivors of sexual violence and individuals who experienced trauma in their families of origin. I have over ten years of experience supporting people healing from the effects of child abuse and relational trauma including sexual abuse, incest, neglect, and intimate partner violence. I hold a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. I founded Arise Therapy in August 2020 after seven years of service in community mental health and sexual assault crisis centers where I had the privilege of providing trauma-focused therapy and crisis intervention with adults, children, adolescents, and families of diverse backgrounds. As a Queer person, I'm committed to supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community, including those who are non-binary, gender diverse, and exploring their sexuality and/or gender. I have experience working with non-monogamous, poly, and kinky adults. I am sex positive, weight-neutral/affirming of all body sizes, and believe in the importance of harm reduction, mindfulness, radical acceptance, and humor. I believe in intentional spaces and recognize racism, xenophobia, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, sanism, fatphobia, and all forms of oppression to be inseparable from experiences of mental health. I strive towards active engagement in anti-racism in my personal and professional life. My work as a therapist and social worker is deeply personal and political. It is my honor to hear your story and support you along the way.