About 

Therapy in LA with Anna Hollaender-Bird, LMFT

Do any of these situations sound familiar?

  • There was that breakup with the guy who was “the one.” Painful, unexpected. And now you feel like never dating again or think to yourself – maybe my parents are right – just date that person you know they like. Essentially give up.
  • That traumatic “thing” that happened that replays in your mind. You don’t even want to say it out loud. Why won’t it go away? You’ve tried to move on.
  • That horrible recurring fight with your family or friends that made you feel completely defeated and alone. But, if you can’t talk with your support system, then who can you trust?
  • You try to get everything “right,” but honestly you just feel anxious and defeated a lot. Why can’t you just trust yourself? Other people seem to just “know” what they want, hold their heads up high. What’s wrong with you?
  • You’re there for everyone else. But it feels like when you need something, there’s no one there for you. You want close friends, a relationship, a “community,” but that hasn’t happened yet. And it feels lonely. Why don’t you “fit” anywhere?
  • It’s hard to set boundaries with your family and friends. It feels like you’re a “doormat” sometimes.
  • You’ve got so many plates spinning at the same time: school, job, family expectations. It’s just a matter of time before something falls. You make a mistake. Then it’ll be all your fault. Well, it feels like it’s all your fault anyway. So, what does it matter?

Therapy gives you a platform.

Until you see the whole picture, it’s hard to heal. Let’s explore what’s underneath together.

Think about an iceberg. You can see the tip of the iceberg above the water, but you know there’s a lot more there. You just can’t see it.

This is like the therapy process. There are so many issues that bring us into therapy: stress, tough relationships, feelings of insecurity, or memories that play on “repeat” in your head. But you know that there’s MORE.

Once you see and understand what’s beneath the surface, you can deal with it and finally heal – without the comments or “simple solutions” from friends and family that drive you crazy.

Therapy is a place where you can figure things out without judgment or pressure.

I earn your trust through really taking the time to understand how you feel – “walk a mile” in your shoes, so to speak, and help you figure out your vision for where you’re headed. As your therapist, I make you feel comfortable to finally say those things out loud that you’ve had running over and over in your mind.

What each person WANTS from therapy is different for everyone, of course. Therefore, it’s a personalized experience. I’ll walk you through tough topics in a way that leaves you with hope.

I pace therapy sessions in a way that feels comfortable for you. We don’t have to do a “deep dive” into your childhood. I take the pressure off.

When we both agree you’re ready, I help you work through tough moments in the past and in the end change the way it’s remembered in a good way. That’s what sets me apart from other therapists.

About Anna Hollaender-Bird, LMFT

But enough about the process, what actually “qualifies me” to do this job?

My education and experience: Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and have completed 3,000 post-graduate hours to be “licensed” a therapist through the state of California.

I’ve done additional post-graduate training in evidenced-based practices such as Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) – a mixture of a lot of the best trauma methods, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). My framework is a fusion between psychodynamic and Rogerian, often called “client-centered” approach to therapy.

But maybe you don’t know what all this training “means.” That’s O.K. Long story short – I have trained and continue to study new information to ensure that I offer you the best and most cutting-edge ways for you to feel better faster.

But training alone doesn’t make a therapist great at what they do. After all, we all know smart people that are hard to listen to for more than a minute.

My philosophy is that trust between you and me is what’s most important to the success of therapy.

My job is to ensure you have the most meaningful experience possible. Your life story, secrets, and hopes for the future are something I handle with the utmost care. I am passionate about what I do and genuinely care. That’s what shows through.

A little more about me…

When I’m not at work you can find me hanging out with my dogs and husband who is, fun fact, also a therapist.

I have to admit I never thought I’d love small dogs. But they’ve won me over. They’re kooky and fun. They seem to really believe they’re big dogs. If they knew their true size, I doubt they’d bark at the biggest pitbull that walks by.

I love everything entertainment: TV, movies, theater, stand-up. My favorite show right now is “I’m Dying Up Here.” I love that the characters on this show feel so dynamic. The show takes place in L.A. during the ’70s, which I think was an interesting time period.

I’ve made a few attempts to “up” my palate and become a “foodie.” But, my favorite culinary delights continue to be turkey sandwiches and anything involving breakfast tacos.