Anna Curran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with ten years of experience in providing individual, family and group therapy within a variety of community settings. You can read her full bio here!
Anna works at our Chicago-Hinsdale office. To schedule an appointment with her, please contact our intake department.
See below for more information about Anna!
What self-care techniques or activities do you do?
Yoga, reading, family movie nights, going for walks, and writing.
Working directly with people has always empowered and energized me. However, becoming a therapist was not a direct route for me. I completed my undergraduate education uncertain as to what career path I wanted to take. I worked a number of different jobs; teaching preschool, a server at a start-up cafe, an assistant at a law firm, and my favorite…working within a group home for boys. Within each job, I kept coming back to my desire to work directly with the individuals and families I was supporting. I went to an informational meeting on what a Masters in Social Work entailed, and I was sold. Graduating with an MSW led me to work with families, children, individuals and couples within school, home, hospital and community settings. Providing direct service and working on strengthening my clinical skills became my goal within each job opportunity. Now I am happy to have focused my career as a psychotherapist and am thankful for all the clients and experiences that shaped me into the therapist I am today.
What are your specialties?
Working with individuals experiencing both medical and mental health concerns, perinatal mental health, family therapy, crisis Intervention, group therapy, and life transition support.
Why do you believe that counseling can help?
I believe counseling can help anyone who wants to find and utilize a space in which their thoughts, words and emotions can be safely shared and processed. By actively participating in therapy, a client is not alone with their fears or concerns, but instead is empowered to find strength and meaning in what they have gone through, how they are feeling, and what they would like to accomplish in their future. Counseling can be a healing place for a couple or a family going through a difficult transition. Counseling can be a safe place for someone who has experienced trauma or a place of respite for a grieving person to share their sadness. For whichever specific reason a client may seek counseling, I have found that it is helpful because the client is no longer alone.
Did you have a career before becoming a therapist?
Not a career, but I did work as a preschool/daycare teacher, a barista, a group- home childcare worker, and an assistant at a law firm in Chicago before deciding to get my Masters in Social Work. Over the past ten years, I have worked at balancing starting my own family and building my career. I worked as a crisis intervention therapist, a support specialist for women and families going through pregnancy and postpartum mental health concerns, and a behavioral health and group therapist within a medical clinic setting.
Why is it important to seek counseling?
I believe that it is important to seek counseling so that we are not alone in our struggles. Whether it be a short- or long-term mental health need, counseling provides a space for people to work towards treatment goals with the support of a therapist.