Annie Farmer, Ph.D.
(she/her)
About Annie
At some time or another, each of us end up struggling to make sense of things. This may be due to unexpected life events, problems at work or in relationships, or difficulty managing upsetting thoughts or feelings. Whatever the reason, if you feel stuck or overwhelmed, you don't have to face such issues on your own. As a therapist, I am here to help you through these challenging periods. Working together to make meaningful changes in your life may involve learning new skills, tuning into your strengths, and/or developing insight into patterns of behavior that hold you back. There are many paths forward, but they all require taking that first courageous step.
If you know you'd like things to be different but don't know where to start, please reach out to schedule a consultation.
Clinical Training and Background
I am a licensed psychologist providing therapy and assessment to individuals and couples. Over the course of my training, I have had the opportunity to work in inpatient psychiatric units, community counseling centers, and primary care clinics. Within these diverse settings I have assisted both adolescents and adults with a wide range of concerns. These include anxiety and panic, depression, the consequences of chronic illness, relationship problems, and grief. I received my doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. As part of my studies I completed a dissertation examining the systemic effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on female partners of OEF/OIF Veterans. My clinical internship was at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston where I sought out specialized training in the the treatment of trauma-related disorders. I earned my B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania where I conducted ethnographic research on women's healthcare for my honors thesis.
At some time or another, each of us end up struggling to make sense of things. This may be due to unexpected life events, problems at work or in relationships, or difficulty managing upsetting thoughts or feelings. Whatever the reason, if you feel stuck or overwhelmed, you don't have to face such issues on your own. As a therapist, I am here to help you through these challenging periods. Working together to make meaningful changes in your life may involve learning new skills, tuning into your strengths, and/or developing insight into patterns of behavior that hold you back. There are many paths forward, but they all require taking that first courageous step.
If you know you'd like things to be different but don't know where to start, please reach out to schedule a consultation.
Common Treatment Concerns
Worry and anxiety
Depression
Problems in relationships
Struggles with feeling insecure
Post-traumatic stress reactions
Difficulties related to a major-life transition
Misuse of substances
Challenges related to living with chronic illness or pain
Therapy
Individual
I have received training in and am experienced in the use of a variety of evidence-based treatments. I enjoy working collaboratively with clients to determine what approach best fits their needs and goals.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is rooted in the examination of how we interpret events in our lives and how changing our patterns of thinking can lead to changes in how we feel and act. This type of work can be very useful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Psychodynamic therapy incorporates attention to how our early life influences the way we currently experience others and function in relationships. Treatment that includes these elements is very helpful in understanding long-term patterns of behavior.
Mindfulness-based therapy encourages us to pay attention to what we experience in the present moment without judgment. With a focus on accepting rather than controlling our inner experiences, such an approach can help individuals to be more intentional and reconnect with what they value in life.
Some individuals have a presenting concern that clearly matches a particular type of treatment. In other cases, however, I draw from multiple approaches as I believe they have different strengths that can complement each other. Following a thorough intake that may involve the use of assessment tools to help clarify clinical concerns, I discuss with clients how we can work together in therapy towards the goals they have identified.
Couple
A partner or spouse can be a tremendously important source of support when we encounter the inevitable challenges that life throws at us. Far too often, however, our romantic relationships create stress instead of alleviating it because we don't understand some of the fundamentals of how each other operate. My work with couples is based on the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) which was developed by Stan Tatkin, Psy. D. This treatment is rooted in research on neuroscience, attachment theory, and nervous system regulation. I work actively in sessions with couples to help individuals learn new information about themselves and their partners so that they can feel more connected and do a better job of taking care of each other.
Assessment
I have experience administering, scoring, and interpreting a wide variety of assessments. This includes both objective and projective personality measures such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2 & MMPI-RF), the Rorschach (R-PAS scoring system), and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). It also includes comprehensive intelligence and achievement tests such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) and the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-4) as well as a variety of brief measures that are used to screen for cognitive impairment. A third category of assessments that I have experience administering are those used in the diagnosis of specific disorders such as the Clinician Adminstered PTSD Scale (CAPS-V). I often use assessment measures as a part of ongoing therapy in order to clarify treatment needs or monitor response to treatment, but I am also happy to complete assessment reports for individuals who require them for other purposes.
I’d love to hear from you.
To set up a consultation or assessment, feel free to contact me by email or phone.
E: drfarmer@anniefarmer.com