Anna Byker, LLMSW

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Hello! I am so glad that you have taken a step in beginning or continuing on your journey of healing and restoration. I recognize that seeing a new therapist for the first time can be quite overwhelming in itself, so my goal is to meet you where you are at to be able to foster a healthy therapeutic relationship.

A little bit about me:

I obtained my Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA. My therapeutic approach stems from my graduate training in outpatient therapy with multiple patients age 6 and older; along with experience providing care in an inpatient setting for individuals 18+. These roles have given me the opportunity to walk alongside people who have gone through really hard things and at the same time, allowed me to see glimmers of resilience and hope. Many of the people I have worked with have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder or experiencing suicidal thoughts, but my goal is to look beyond the diagnosis and incorporate whole person care. You are more than your diagnosis, you are someone with a story that deserves to be heard!

My work draws from the concepts of interpersonal neurobiology, which considers the brain and ways to grow resilience, emotional regulation, and create wholeness by "rewiring" our brains to previously learned thought processes and behaviors. I also incorporate a faith-based Christian perspective for individuals who identify this to be a part of their treatment plan. My Christian worldview shapes how I see hope and healing/redemption and restoration, but I welcome clients of all faiths or none while never imposing my personal beliefs on anyone. I center my approach around the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model that indicates how every facet of our being is interconnected and affects one another.

What does treatment look like?

As we get to know each other, we will work to create a treatment plan that is specific to YOU. I will provide you with practical tools rooted in CBT, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Relational Neuroscience in line with your treatment plan. We will set goals and work together to identify strengths, barriers, and resources in response to these goals. We will work at YOUR PACE and evaluate what you need each session. We will continue to adjust and work through your treatment plan to drive you to a place that you want to be.

Whatever you are walking through, I would love the opportunity to join you "in the thick of it" while working in a safe space at your pace. I am passionate about aiding in the process of transformation of what it feels like to be known, seen, and heard and understanding your true worth despite things that have/had/will happen to you.