Hi there. I’m Anabella.
This is my story.
I was born in Argentina, a country plagued by hyperinflation, and my family emigrated to the resilient city of Newark, NJ, without any generational wealth or community ties. My parents divorced, I watched loved ones suffer from incarceration and the weight of stress and isolation, and I was growing in my awareness of social injustices.
Much like my hard-working family and neighbors, I was devoted to making the best out of my circumstances.
Like many around me, I was fueled by the hustle. I took on several part-time jobs, filling in my evenings and weekends in the service industry aside from being a full-time student. I also partied hard, and I justified it as “balance”. Student loans helped me to pursue my dream of having quality education.
But studying Psychology didn’t mean I would figure out how to stay centered during and after college. The education system failed to address the burnout that is common in the helping professions. I needed to find out how to stay grounded.
My personal healing journey became a big part of my approach to caring for others.
I was motivated to understand what was happening and how to feel better. I started to question what I was numbing out and why I kept losing myself in painful relationships. I decided that I would look internally as much as I sought out external support and connection.
I continue to grow, and I am grateful for what I learned (so far!). With the renewed energy that I have after deep healing, I’m committed to my clients and communities. I volunteer in conservation efforts back home in Argentina, as well as a mutual aid organization in Brooklyn. Life still has its challenges, but the ways that I cope have changed.
I found that it is possible to heal through a combination of talk therapy, movement, bodywork, and a dedication to staying conscious of what is true.
I’m dedicated to helping you do the same.
Experiences that have shaped me, how I work, and how I relate:
Immigrant, Third Culture Kid
Cisgender woman
Queer, straight-passing
Early childhood trauma survivor
Sex worker allied, sex-positive
Latine of mixed descent, presenting as racially/culturally ambiguous
Able-bodied, with experience with chronic pain and neurodivergence
Former Free Lunch Kid
Grew up in a household impacted by addiction and severe mental health struggles