Anna Sweet

Hi! I'm Anna, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate at Dayspring's Maple Valley office. I work with kiddos as young as 6-years-old on issues related to anxiety, challenging behaviors at home and/or school, ADHD, social skills, etc.; and to best help them, I often work alongside their parents/caregivers to ensure that we're all on the same page. I also enjoy working with pre-teens, adolescents, and adults of all ages who struggle with difficult changes in their lives (including moving, changing schools/jobs, ending/starting new relationships, divorce, the entire perinatal period, and shifts in one's identity), depressive episodes, trauma, or relationship issues. In our work together, my hope is to walk alongside them in their struggles, learn how they view themselves and the world around them, and help them gain new perspectives as we work to change unhelpful behaviors.

HOW I HELP

With little ones, I use play therapy to help them communicate and express themselves. This might involve figurines/dolls, Play-Doh, games, or art supplies--whatever might help them tell their stories, identify their emotions, and learn new ways to manage their big feelings. Older clients are also welcome to use play therapy materials! Whether we engage in traditional talk therapy or include a game of Uno during the session, I tend to work from a cognitive behavioral approach as we unravel and explore issues together. Oftentimes, this looks like storytelling, brainstorming, questioning and answering...until a shift takes place in one's thoughts, emotions, and actions.

MORE ABOUT ME

Outside the office, I love spending time with my kids (even if that means we're all in the same room doing completely different things), hiking with our husky, bookstore hopping, reading classical/contemporary fiction and fantasy, and writing poetry.