DBT Therapy and Mindfulness for intense emotions
Despite feeling lost or hopeless, there is a way through
I’m here to help you discover how truly capable you are of managing your emotions and building a life worth loving.
meet ANNAMARIE HESS, MSW, LCSW
Hi, I'm Anna.
Having experienced deep, pervasive emotion and mood swings myself, I can relate to knowing how hard it can be to maintain a job, school, and relationships while feeling like inside you are drowning or acting in ways that really don’t fit who you are.
You have amazing gifts and goals but you often feel stuck. Your intense emotions, mood shifts, and sometimes impulsive behaviors create an exhausting cycle that you want to break but don’t know how.
As an intensely trained DBT therapist, I strive to teach you skills that can help you move through your emotions, end damaging cycles of behavior, and help you reach your individual goals. I want you to have new ways of looking at problems, new ways of thinking and doing so that you can build a life that reflects your values, dreams, goals and hopes.
I take a modern approach to therapy in that I believe therapy is a form of self-care.
I strive to create a welcoming, warm environment so you can do your best work. I do not want therapy to feel stuffy or sterile. You and I are partners, equals in this. You are the expert on you, and you know what a life worth living means to you!
To create lasting change, I strongly feel that each person I work with needs tailored, individualized support and evidence-based treatment. Both are equally important in your journey toward the life you desire to create.
I specialize in borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, and my main approaches are DBT and Mindfulness.
Beyond The Therapy Room
Superpower
Empathy, Passionate, Open Minded
Brunch. Honey. Pad Thai. Avocado. Hot Sauce.
Favorite Bites
Lemonade. Sparkling Water. Coffee. Creative cocktails.
Favorite Sips
The ocean. Horses. Family. Plants. Gardening. Travel. Being Outside.
Lights Me Up
Nature. Music. Family. Humans’ Inherent Goodness and Ability to Grow.
Inspires
Where I’ve Been
Italy. France. England. Mexico. Hawaii.
Ireland. Scotland. Costa Rica. Bon Aire. Africa. Chile.
Where I Want to Go
Natural. Casual. Comfortable with a touch of Edge.
Style
Daily Rituals
Crossfit/Exercise. Stretching. Caffeine.
My Background
I graduated from Truman State University in 2008 with a BA in Psychology, took a few years off to work in the social work field, and went back to school in 2010. I graduated from Saint Louis University with a Masters in Social Work in 2013. I have worked in the mental health field for over 15 years serving kids, teens, young adults, adults, and their families in a variety of ways. I have been working with teens and adults for over 10 years now and love it!
My Values
I value creativity, authenticity, passion, humility and humor (you just have to laugh sometimes). I strive to create an inclusive and affirming environment in my practice regardless of religious or spiritual background, sexuality, gender identification, or class. Holding myself accountable to do the lifelong work of reducing my own bias and ignorances.
Ready for a change in your life?
I want to help you build a life worth living – a life that you love. Take the next step forward.