Ananda Genece, MHC-LP
Associate Psychotherapist | She/Her/Hers
Maybe you have become used to holding things in, minimizing what you feel, or wondering whether it is safe to fully express yourself. When vulnerability has not always felt welcomed or understood, it can become difficult to trust your emotions, advocate for your needs, or feel fully connected to yourself and the people around you. Over time, you may find yourself longing for a space where you can finally release some of what you have been carrying.
Hi, I’m Ananda. I especially enjoy working with women and emerging adults from diverse backgrounds and identities who are navigating attachment and relational trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic or race-related stress, self-esteem, and self-expression. Together, we can create space to understand your experiences, reconnect with yourself, and strengthen your ability to express what you feel and need. You deserve a place where you can find your voice and move toward healing with care, patience, and grace.
*Ananda is currently accepting new clients and clinically supervised by Samah Nanda, LMHC-D.
How I Understand the Work
I believe our ability to express ourselves is shaped by the relationships, cultures, and environments we have experienced. Sometimes holding things in, staying guarded, or disconnecting from our emotions develops for a reason. Therapy can offer an opportunity to understand those patterns while gradually creating new ways of relating to yourself and others.
My approach is trauma-informed and psychodynamic, while also drawing from CBT, mindfulness, emotion-focused reflection, and somatic techniques. We may explore the deeper experiences and relational patterns influencing you today while also building ways to regulate emotions, increase clarity, and reconnect with yourself after prolonged stress, burnout, or trauma. I also value creative and expressive approaches for moments when words alone do not fully capture what you are experiencing. Because therapy is not one-size-fits-all, our work will be flexible and shaped around your individual needs and lived experience.
What Therapy With Me Feels Like
Therapy with me is caring, patient, validating, and collaborative. I understand that vulnerability and expression do not always come easily, so I do not expect you to open up before you are ready. I want us to build a relationship where you can gradually feel comfortable bringing forward the thoughts, emotions, and experiences you may not always have space to share elsewhere.
Our sessions may include reflection, psychoeducation, practical tools, creative expression, or simply making room to finally feel and release something you have been carrying. I value the small shifts just as much as the larger ones, whether that means understanding a symptom differently, trying a new technique, bringing your own reflection into session, or noticing a change in your relationships. My hope is that our work gives you a space to feel, explore, express yourself freely, and move toward change in a way that feels meaningful to you.
Areas I Often Support
Attachment & Relational Trauma | Women’s Issues | Burnout
Race-Related Stress | Cultural Identity | Self-Expression
Self-Esteem & Self-Worth | Emerging Adulthood
Languages
Therapy is available in English.
A little about me
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I have always been drawn to working with people in a meaningful way, and I’ve always valued being a safe space for others whether it was a family member or close friend. However, experiencing the intense stress and collective trauma during the year 2020, with the pandemic and societal unrest, is what pushed me towards pursuing a counseling degree. I noticed the increased need for emotional and psychological aid, and I especially wanted to increase representation within the therapeutic field for individuals from various backgrounds, specifically the Black community, to feel safe enough and comfortable to seek help from those who can understand and resonate with them.
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My favorite part of being a therapist is witnessing change in my clients. One thing I love to hear and be part of is that moment of relief or the small shifts in their journeys that motivate them to continue doing the work towards their goals. Whether through increased control and understanding of their symptoms, utilizing learned techniques, coming into session with their own reflections, or experiencing positive changes in their relationships. Finding understanding and being able to play a role in either guiding, opening and sharing a space for someone to finally release, feel, or change is a humbling aspect of being a therapist.
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Lately, I have set the goal of re-engaging in my hobbies and interests, which has brought me some comfort. Exercising my creative muscle through sketching, listening to music, going to a show or an exhibit are a few surefire ways to help me recover from burnout or overwhelm, while adding a fun spark to my routine.
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Outside of work, spending time with my family and friends helps me feel most like myself. I deeply value community and engaging with my support system is one way that reminds me of what I find important. With my loved ones, I am able to be my full self and relax in the presence of someone who knows me through a conversation or quality time, which feels especially calming after a long day.
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M.A. in Mental Health Counseling, New York University
B.A. in Psychology, The George Washington University
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”