About Annie

My name is Annie Chen. I practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist, facilitating personal growth and healing for individuals and couples. I do this work because I am good at facilitating felt shifts in the way people experience themselves, relationships, and the world. And every day that I work with clients I end the day feeling energized and inspired by the changes they make.

Before you entrust me with your process of growth and change, maybe you'd like to know a little about me?

​I graduated from San Francisco State University with a masters degree in Counseling Psychology. I graduated top of my class and was awarded for outstanding work at a field placement and outstanding academic achievement. My field work training consisted of working with LGBTQ communities, seniors, people with severe and persistent mental illness, and at-risk youth and their families.

I've spent most of my life in the Bay Area but have also lived in the South, schooled on the East Coast and Pacific Northwest. Prior to the work that I do now, I've had many livelihoods. To name a few, I was a rock climbing instructor; spent several years advocating for policy related to civil liberties; led and developed a youth leadership program; served as a fundraising consultant for several large US-based nonprofits; and lived, worked, and taught at the scenic hamlet of Slide Ranch in West Marin. 

​The diversity of my experiences reflects an early curiosity within me to explore new environments; a desire to understand and support people in a meaningful way; and a commitment to justice, social change, and sustainability. 

I believe we are all social and cultural beings impacted not only by personal history, but also by the histories of our ancestors and the world. I keep this view in the background of our work, and when relevant, I introduce the role of these histories to offer greater depth, dimension, and power to our work.

My work is about creating greater fluidity with the circumstances that surround us. What can be meaningful about change? How can we be more inspired by the change that is happening in life? How do we address pain and transform it? How do personal experiences connect with what is happening in the world? These are some of the questions that inspire my work. I have a passion for working with people of all ages and backgrounds to discover their own answers to these questions. 

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Contact Annie

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Education and Experience

• MA, Community Psychology in Process Work, Process Work Institute, 2017 .
• MS, Counseling Psychology, San Francisco State University, 2011.
• Mental Health Counselor, College of Alameda, 2015.
• Youth and Family Therapist, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, 2011-2014.
• Mental Health Counselor, Richmond Area Multi-Services, 2011-2012.
• Practicum Trainee, AgeSong Institute, 2010-2011.
• Practicum Trainee, New Leaf: Services for Our Community, 2009-2010.

​Credentials and Associations

• CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #80025.
• Level 2 Practitioner, Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy.
• Level 1 Practitioner, Developmental Model for Couples Therapy.
• Diplomate, Process Oriented Psychology.
• Psychology Practicum Supervisor, San Francisco Sex Information.
• Member, Bay Area Open Minds.
• Member, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom.
• Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).
• Member, East Bay Chapter of CAMFT.
• Member, LGBTQ Therapists of Color Association.

Select List of Advanced Training

• Brainspotting Training with David Grand (24 hours).
• Brainspotting Level 1 (32 hours).
• Neuroaffective Touch Practitioner (85 hours).
• The Hoffman Process (2018 graduate).
• Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy Level 2 (40 hours).
• Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy Level 1 (58 hours).
• Developmental Model of Couples Therapy Level 1, Couples Institute (36 hours).
• Advanced Sex Educator Training, San Francisco Sex Information (56 hours).
• Expressive Arts Therapy, Pacific Institute (24 hours).
• CA Domestic Violence Counselor Training (64 hours).