Hi there. I’m Anabella.

This is my story.

I was born in a country with hyperinflation, and my family emigrated to the resilient city of Newark, NJ without generational wealth or community ties. My parents divorced, I watched loved ones suffer from incarceration and the weights of socioeconomic stress, 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 and figuring out how I could be part of either the solutions, or at least a source of connection and support for those who were also struggling.

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 balanced. I struggled with anxiety, severe depression, and body image issues. 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!) 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 now have more stability and energy, allowing me to experience more joy, capacity for my patients and community mutual aid efforts, and the space to be more present with my loved ones.

I’m dedicated to helping you do the same.

Identities and experiences that shaped me, how I work, and how I relate:

  • Immigrant

  • Cisgender woman

  • Queer

  • 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 with a family member who struggled with addictions and severe mental health challenges