Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Torres.
Hi Anna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story began in Poland, where I was born and raised during the 1980s and 90s. Growing up in a country under communist oppression and then watching it transform into a democracy gave me a deep appreciation for resilience, simplicity, and the beauty of nature.
As a teenager, I came to the United States as a foreign exchange student. That year changed my life—it was both exhilarating and terrifying. I encountered diversity in ways I had never imagined, and I began to dream of building a future here. When I was told by a guidance counselor that with poor English and no money, I had “no chance” at college, something in me sparked. I decided to try anyway. With scholarships, determination, and the generosity of people who opened their homes and hearts to me, I began my education in the U.S.
It wasn’t easy. I worked long hours while attending school, often struggling with loneliness and missing my family deeply. But I also discovered that learning could be both a coping mechanism and a path forward. Along the way, I met mentors, friends, and families who modeled kindness and resilience. These early experiences shaped my personal values and planted the seed of wanting to “pay it forward.”
My personal journey has not been without loss and challenge. Going through divorce was one of those pivotal life experiences that forced me to pick up the pieces and rethink what it meant to be “whole.” Counselors are often expected to “have it all together,” yet my struggles reminded me that vulnerability, growth, and even endings are part of being human. Today, I bring that lived experience into my work, helping clients not only build healthier relationships but also learn when and how to let go when a relationship is no longer serving them.
I am now remarried to an incredible man, and together we are raising my daughter and two amazing stepchildren. Blending a family has been its own journey—teaching me how to forgive, collaborate, and co-parent with grace. Some of my proudest moments are the ones where we sit around a table with ex-partners at holidays or kids’ events, modeling what it means to be grounded adults who prioritize love and stability for children above all else.
Professionally, my journey began in a nonprofit agency, where I was immersed in the realities of addiction, trauma, and survival. Those experiences confirmed that counseling was my calling. I went on to complete my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at Stetson University, became licensed in 2012, and have now spent over two decades walking alongside clients through their pain, resilience, and transformation.
At one point, I also pursued a PhD and completed all coursework, moving on to work on my dissertation. In that process, I learned an important truth: sometimes finishing doesn’t mean obtaining the degree; sometimes it means recognizing when to let go because life and priorities change. I chose to close that chapter ABD (“All But Dissertation”), and instead of seeing it as a failure, I view it as a wise and necessary decision that honored the season of life I was in.
Today, as a licensed clinician specializing in trauma, EMDR, and relational therapy, I see my path as one of both survival and service. Every client I meet is a reminder that while our stories and struggles differ, we all carry within us the possibility of healing and growth.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been far from smooth, but it has been meaningful. Leaving my home country as a teenager meant navigating profound loneliness, culture shock, and the pressure of building a life from scratch. Financial hardship was a constant theme in my early years—I juggled multiple jobs, lived in modest and sometimes difficult conditions, and often questioned whether I could keep going.
On a personal level, divorce was another turning point. It taught me humility, acceptance, and how to rebuild in ways I never thought I would need to. It also deepened my belief that our hardest moments can become catalysts for growth if we allow them to.
Later, as a mother and stepmother, I faced the challenge of creating a blended family. That journey has been full of lessons—on forgiveness, on communication, and on the incredible possibility of turning complicated dynamics into supportive, collaborative relationships. Today, I find pride in knowing that my children experience holidays and milestones surrounded by adults who are willing to show up with love, even when history is complex.
These struggles shaped me. They taught me empathy, perseverance, and humility. They gave me a lens to see not only my own resilience but also the resilience of others. The road wasn’t smooth, but it forged my strength and deepened my purpose.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the owner of Trauma and Recovery Therapy, LLC in Palm Coast, Florida. My practice specializes in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, as well as those navigating depression, anxiety, and relationship challenges. I am a certified EMDR therapist and use a client-centered, integrative approach that includes CBT, existential therapy, Internal Family Systems, and recovery principles.
I am especially passionate about relational therapy—helping clients build healthier, more authentic relationships with themselves and with others. My office is located in a tiny home in my backyard, surrounded by a rose and flower path. I wanted to step away from the sterile, institutional feel of many therapy settings and instead create an intimate, welcoming environment where clients feel safe, grounded, and at home in their healing process.
What sets my practice apart is the focus on depth, safety, and personalization. Healing trauma requires more than tools and techniques—it requires an environment of acceptance, attunement, and trust. I strive to create that environment for every client.
I am most proud of the reputation my practice has built for compassionate, caring, and for being a place where clients feel both seen and empowered. Beyond individual therapy, I have also supported veterans through volunteer work with the Wounded Warrior Project and Gratitude America, and I remain committed to giving back to the community.
Ultimately, my goal is not just to help clients “cope,” but to help them reclaim their lives, reconnect with themselves, and discover their capacity to thrive.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For me, risk has always been intertwined with growth. Leaving Poland as a teenager, choosing to stay in the U.S. despite overwhelming challenges, and pursuing higher education when the odds were stacked against me—these were risks that shaped the trajectory of my life.
But risk is not only about external moves—it is also about internal courage. One of the greatest risks I have taken has been learning how to build authentic relationships by being vulnerable. For someone who grew up in survival mode, trusting myself and allowing others to truly see me was not natural. Choosing to open up, risk rejection, and trust again after loss has been one of the hardest and most rewarding journeys of my life. It’s through those risks that I have found deeper connections—with my husband, with my blended family, and with the community I serve.
Another defining risk was letting go of my PhD pursuit. I had completed all the coursework and was immersed in my dissertation when I realized that finishing, for me, did not mean earning the title—it meant recognizing that life and priorities had shifted. Stepping away was a risk because it meant challenging the narrative that “success” is only defined by external achievements. But in choosing to release it, I honored my own limits, my family, and the calling I felt in my practice. That decision deepened my understanding of resilience and gave me a more compassionate lens for the risks my clients face when they let go of what no longer serves them.
I don’t see risk as recklessness; I see it as leaning into the unknown with courage and trust. Every meaningful step in my journey—whether personal, relational, or professional—has involved risk. And while it has often been uncomfortable, it has always led to deeper fulfillment, stronger relationships, and a more grounded sense of purpose.
Pricing:
- The base line for the individual session is $ 120 per hour, however, I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, so pricing is often discussed individually with clients. I also accept several insurance plans to make therapy more accessible.
Contact Info:
