Ana Laidley, M.A., M.F.T.

I believe in the power of human beings as a whole.  As a professional psychotherapist, I have dedicated my career to assist my clients in rescuing their essence and in the process of individuation.  This is no simple task, however, in my opinion, psychotherapy is a tremendous and powerful tool for both self-improvement and personal growth.  My experiences as a Black-Brazilian immigrant

helped me to become aware of and advocate for culturally proficient treatment.  Through the use of various counseling techniques, my mission is to encourage and assist others in being curious about themselves, utilizing inner, external, and creative resources to find their way of healing.   Even the simplest of issues can be multi-factorial (i.e. involving fear, trauma, emotional conflict, and failed interpersonal relationships), I will always encourage my clients to be responsible for having the life that they want and deserve.

I feel so privileged to have received the guidance and supervision of Dr. Salvador Minuchin (Structural Family Therapy) whilst working and acquiring hours for my licensure.  Through that experience, I learned just how powerful the family system is. I also witnessed the effectiveness of addressing underlying core issues, which often hide behind the veil of individual emotional conflict.

Exercising cultural sensitivity within this field of work is also a constant priority, and something I value as a Brazilian woman who moved to the United States 29 years ago. The psychological impact of immigration can be overwhelming, however, I understand it personally. Because of this fact, I have committed myself to promote a mental health practice that is sensitive and aware of cultural diversity and the limitation and even ineffectiveness of several therapeutic models.