Welcome!
I’m a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and author. I was born in Romania and have lived all over the US and Europe. I am passionate about both psychology and writing, which I try to blend whenever possible.
About Dr. Ana
Education:
Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology—2023
Master’s of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology—2020
Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology from Emory University—2018
Gottman Level 1 Certification—2023
Doctoral Internship at the University of Washington Counseling Center—2023
My approach to writing:
I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember, though it was only in 2023 that I published my first novel, The Curse in Their Veins. Currently, I’m working on two projects: a Gothic horror novel and a psychological thriller with speculative elements. Here are some of the defining features of my writing:
Psychological suspense
Folklore and supernatural elements
Depictions of mental illness
Links between the past and present
Vivid imagery
Jungian symbolism
Themes pertaining to interpersonal relationships
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My approach to mental health:
Psychologically, my main interests include relationship issues, anxiety, mindset, and interpersonal trauma. My approach to mental health is psychodynamic, acceptance-based, and dialectically-informed.
Psychodynamic—I believe that we are often driven by unconscious forces and defense mechanisms. Our minds try to protect us from seeing parts of ourselves that are too painful, so it puts up walls. But when we can build the strength to look past our defenses, we can find valuable insights in the unconscious.
Acceptance-based—Resistance of reality is behind much of our suffering. Pain is an inevitable aspect of being human, but we multiply that pain when we refuse to accept what cannot be changed. If we can learn to accept both inner and external experiences, we can live more freely.
Dialectical—The world is not in black-and-white, but rather many shades of gray. When we can honor the nuances and complexities of life, our mental health will improve.
Inquiries
I am not currently taking on therapy clients. However, I do have a number of non-therapeutic resources: