Anya Ford, LMHC

I believe that therapy is for everyone and anyone regardless of their circumstances. Many of us have never been encouraged to prioritize our social and emotional well-being, which has created a culture of discomfort and even shame around identifying and expressing emotions. While each individual encounters life’s challenges in different ways, every person is deserving of a safe space for engaging in self-reflection, experiencing connection, receiving compassion, building insight to experiences, and feeling seen and heard in the world. I strive to strike a balance between being a source of support and advocacy for my patients while simultaneously empowering them to be agents of change in their own therapeutic process. My approach is relational and individualized based on each unique person’s needs, often integrating techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and Feminist/Relational-Cultural Therapy. I have a diverse wealth of experience and continued interest in working with individuals and communities across the lifespan, with a range of racial and cultural identities, cognitive and physical abilities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. I specialize in supporting people struggling with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, and issues around identity.

Prior to joining SelfWorks, I was a clinician at The Renfrew Center of New York, one of the nation’s leading eating disorder treatment facilities, treating patients with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD, and personality disorders, among other acute diagnoses at both the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient levels of care. I have a master’s degree from Fordham University in Mental Health Counseling as well as a master’s degree in Applied Theatre Arts from the University of Southern California. Before beginning my psychotherapy training, I worked as a Teaching Artist and group facilitator for various arts education and social justice organizations. I am a lifelong, passionate proponent of the arts, and aim to incorporate creative practices into therapeutic work when appropriate. I was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, though my parents are both from New York and I have always identified more as a New Yorker at heart. I currently live in Manhattan with my husband, daughter, and our dog, Tux. In my free time, I can usually be found singing, dancing, choreographing, and directing for a community theatre organization which offers New Yorkers the opportunity to do theatre for fun.