We were all children once, learning and striving for the first time, wondering how our unique gifts would reach others.
Growing up, I had many caring adult relationships; I was given high, clear, and fair expectations; and I had opportunities to contribute and participate. For these reasons, in large part, I grew up to be a strong, healthy, and joyful person who was mostly eager to share myself with the world. But the path I took was not always easy and I found out early that life does not go according to even our best plans.
I began counseling as a young person. For social and cultural reasons, I was thrust into a role of supporting my close family through high-conflict challenges, helping my loved ones to lessen their suffering in their relationships. Though I had no idea at the time that I had already begun my life's right work as a counselor, I did know that I was loving people the best way I knew how. This role taught me at a young age that I have a deep and wise knowing about how to stick with love.
In 2006, after completing a master's of fine arts (MFA) degree in creative writing, I became aware of a need to spread love to my global community. As an AmeriCorps service member I spent two years mentoring youth in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I learned and practiced the bedrock of my training as a counselor: resiliency-driven, participant-centered mentoring; restorative justice conflict management; and asset-based community development. In Louisiana, I also served the YWCA's Dialogue on Race as a facilitator under the guidance of Maxine Crump, supporting communities to break down barriers and dialogue about racism.
When I moved to the Bay Area in 2008, I attended my first Open Relationship Community (ORC) potluck, deepening my personal practice in open relationship and conscious communication. From 2010 to 2012, I coordinated and facilitated the potlucks with my partner. While living in Oakland, I have also had the honor of writing for and working with Strong Families, "a home for the four out of five people in the United States who do not live behind the proverbial picket fence — whose lives fall outside the outdated notion that a family consists of a mom at home and a dad at work," as well as contributing writing and editing to a range of social justice projects.
I began training as a peer counselor through the Interchange Counseling Institute where I eventually served on the leadership team, as well as under the guidance of other Bay Area teachers and trainers, including exposure to processwork, drama therapy, and somatic training. In 2014, I participated in the Yes! Arts for Social Change Jam, where I worked on integrating art into my counseling practice. I completed my formal education as a psychodynamic psychotherapist at San Francisco State University, graduating in 2017 with a master's of science (MS) degree in clinical psychology. From fall 2016 through fall 2017, I served as a psychotherapy trainee with Family Paths. Then in 2020, I completed my supervised hours under the auspices of Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center, working with Rawna Romero, Carolyn Moore, and Gal Szkeley. I passed my licensing exam in the spring of 2021.
I'm excited that you found me here, and I look forward to hearing more from you.
Warmly,
Anna D. Hirsch, MS
they / she
LMFT 126438
510.550.5140
[email protected]
Growing up, I had many caring adult relationships; I was given high, clear, and fair expectations; and I had opportunities to contribute and participate. For these reasons, in large part, I grew up to be a strong, healthy, and joyful person who was mostly eager to share myself with the world. But the path I took was not always easy and I found out early that life does not go according to even our best plans.
I began counseling as a young person. For social and cultural reasons, I was thrust into a role of supporting my close family through high-conflict challenges, helping my loved ones to lessen their suffering in their relationships. Though I had no idea at the time that I had already begun my life's right work as a counselor, I did know that I was loving people the best way I knew how. This role taught me at a young age that I have a deep and wise knowing about how to stick with love.
In 2006, after completing a master's of fine arts (MFA) degree in creative writing, I became aware of a need to spread love to my global community. As an AmeriCorps service member I spent two years mentoring youth in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I learned and practiced the bedrock of my training as a counselor: resiliency-driven, participant-centered mentoring; restorative justice conflict management; and asset-based community development. In Louisiana, I also served the YWCA's Dialogue on Race as a facilitator under the guidance of Maxine Crump, supporting communities to break down barriers and dialogue about racism.
When I moved to the Bay Area in 2008, I attended my first Open Relationship Community (ORC) potluck, deepening my personal practice in open relationship and conscious communication. From 2010 to 2012, I coordinated and facilitated the potlucks with my partner. While living in Oakland, I have also had the honor of writing for and working with Strong Families, "a home for the four out of five people in the United States who do not live behind the proverbial picket fence — whose lives fall outside the outdated notion that a family consists of a mom at home and a dad at work," as well as contributing writing and editing to a range of social justice projects.
I began training as a peer counselor through the Interchange Counseling Institute where I eventually served on the leadership team, as well as under the guidance of other Bay Area teachers and trainers, including exposure to processwork, drama therapy, and somatic training. In 2014, I participated in the Yes! Arts for Social Change Jam, where I worked on integrating art into my counseling practice. I completed my formal education as a psychodynamic psychotherapist at San Francisco State University, graduating in 2017 with a master's of science (MS) degree in clinical psychology. From fall 2016 through fall 2017, I served as a psychotherapy trainee with Family Paths. Then in 2020, I completed my supervised hours under the auspices of Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center, working with Rawna Romero, Carolyn Moore, and Gal Szkeley. I passed my licensing exam in the spring of 2021.
I'm excited that you found me here, and I look forward to hearing more from you.
Warmly,
Anna D. Hirsch, MS
they / she
LMFT 126438
510.550.5140
[email protected]