Annie ZennLPC

The most influential book I have read is The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. It explains how trauma distorts the brain's 'reality,' and sheds light onto our understanding of the mind/body connection. A quote from the book that has stayed with me is "PTSD is the body continuing to defend itself against a threat that belongs in the past" (p.60). I carry the wisdom of this book with me in my practice as an EMDR therapist.

A huge focal point of my work as a therapist is centered around helping my clients recognize their natural ability to heal. Much of my work experience has been with high needs populations who have experienced intergenerational trauma, so for me a trauma-informed, humanistic approach is critical. Humanists have a holistic approach to counseling which looks not just at behaviors but at the whole person. Trauma-informed care emphasizes that one’s context and perception of the world around them has a strong influence on their behavior. In the context of a therapeutic setting, this means meeting clients compassionately where they are at, providing support and wrap-around services for them and their families, and breaking down barriers that prevent them from reaching their fullest potential.

I offer a free 15 minute consultation to learn about your therapeutic needs, answer any questions you may have, and decide if we would be a good fit for counseling. After that, if you decide to establish care with me, I have you fill out some basic intake paperwork and then we get started by establishing your goals for counseling. My approach is client-centered so counseling can progress as quickly or slowly as you would like.

• Oregon, Licensed Professional Counselor, C5066

For the past 16 years, I have worked as a therapist, teacher, school counselor, counseling professor and social worker. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Private Practice, my job is to help you recognize your ability to heal, and find new ways of understanding yourself and the world around you. In my practice, I often use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), EcoTherapy and Art Therapy.