Anna Vargas, LCMHC
As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, I help people reconnect with their sense of true self, work through relationship struggles, heal emotional wounds from the past, and develop the resilience needed to navigate life’s inevitable changes
My Story To Becoming A Therapist
My journey to becoming a therapist has been all but smooth and linear. A creative at heart, I began as an aspiring actor, captivated by the art of understanding and embodying characters and telling stories that bring people closer and help them feel a little bit less alone in an overwhelming world.
I received my BFA in Acting from UNC Greensboro where I honed my craft. The art of storytelling brought incredible meaning, purpose and healing to my life during a time when that was much needed. After some years in the business, I also learned that the business of acting and the craft of acting are two very different things and decided it was time to pivot. I received my Master’s Degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from UNC Chapel Hill in 2021 and subsequently began working as a private practice therapist.
My Style + Approach
My therapeutic style is warm, down-to-earth and direct when helpful.
I don’t nod passively while you go on and on about what happened. I listen intently, interrupt (gently), ask questions with curiosity, slow down to help you connect to your feelings, and offer honest, real-time feedback about what I’m noticing. I pay close attention to not just what your saying but the patterns and dynamics underneath the surface.
Therapy with me is a collaborative process in which you are the expert of your life story and I am here to support you in navigating what you want to come next from a mental wellness perspective. This process is unique to you based on your specific needs and goals for therapy. I check in frequently about our goals and progress and prioritize creating safety for you to share honestly so we can adjust as needed. Together we will sit down and unravel the complexities of being human in order to get to the root causes and find a balance, peace and self-worth.
My hope is that you will experience growth in the form of expanding self-awareness, cultivating self-compassion and empowerment, shifting perspectives, and letting go of unworkable patterns in order to move in a more meaningful and intentional direction. Feeling “not good enough” or “paralyzed” by emotion doesn’t have to rule your life.
I pull from a variety of evidence based modalities and have advanced training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP).
Our work together is personalized, relational, collaborative, and shaped around what matters most to you. Using a trauma-informed, process-based approach grounded in AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and Psychodynamic Therapy, sessions will focus on helping you feel more connected, supported, and empowered as you move toward meaningful change.
In therapy, we may:
Explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they impact your life and relationships.
Slow down to notice, name and deepen core emotions, how they show up in your body, and the messages they carry.
Examine attachment patterns and family-of-origin experiences that continue to shape your present relationship with self and others.
Identify current coping strategies and gently assess how they are or aren’t serving you.
Process difficult or overwhelming experiences at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Strengthen skills for managing anxious and self-critical thoughts.
Explore ways to regulate intense emotions.
Practice self-compassion and soften harsh self-criticism.
Develop clearer boundaries and more effective communication in relationships.
Clarify your values and how they guide your choices.
Together, we’ll decide what feels most important to focus on and move at a pace that respects your goals, your needs, and your emotional safety — creating change that feels grounded, sustainable, and aligned with who you are.
All stories are welcome here.
One of the most important parts about therapy is emotional safety for everybody.
It is of the utmost importance to me that every person I work with feels welcome in the therapy space, no matter their background, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, ability, or body. Discrimination impacts mental health. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, I have seen first hand what this impact looks and feels like. It’s a big reason why I do this work. Feeling “othered” because your story is different from the majority is deeply painful. I am dedicated to continuously learning and respecting all cultural backgrounds and increasing my own self-awareness through ongoing reflection, supervision, and education.
Schedule A Free Consultation
Begin your journey towards more self-compassion and understanding today. We’ll explore what you’re looking for and how I can support you to ensure we’re the right fit.