Annie Dreese, AMFT, PMH-C
Healing Trauma During Pregnancy and Postpartum
EMDR-based, mother-centered therapy for birth trauma, anxiety, and identity shifts — offered in English and Spanish.
Servicios disponibles en inglés y español.
Insurance Accepted: Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare (Optum)
About Annie
Annie provides warm, relational, and trauma-informed therapy for individuals, couples, and parent–child relationships during pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. She works with clients navigating new parenthood, birth-related trauma, anxiety, attachment wounds, and identity shifts that often emerge during this season of life.
Before becoming a therapist, Annie was a teacher, where she saw firsthand how children’s emotional well-being is deeply shaped by their caregiving relationships and home environment. As both a therapist and a mother, she brings a grounded, compassionate understanding of how parenting can surface old wounds while also opening space for growth, healing, and deeper connection.
Annie offers therapy in English and Spanish and is especially supportive of bilingual and bicultural clients seeking care that honors culture, family dynamics, and the importance of language in emotional expression.
Who Annie Works Best With
Annie specializes in working with:
Pregnant and postpartum women
Mothers adjusting to identity shifts after childbirth
Parents of babies and young children navigating bonding and regulation
Couples adjusting to new roles, intimacy changes, and parenting stress
Individuals healing from trauma, anxiety, and attachment wounds
She is a strong fit for clients who want therapy that feels supportive, emotionally attuned, and grounded in both practical tools and meaningful insight.
Annie’s Approach
Annie’s work is rooted in the belief that healing happens through connection, safety, and trust. She meets each client with curiosity and care, integrating evidence-based and relational approaches to support both emotional and nervous system healing.
Her approach integrates:
EMDR for trauma processing and nervous system regulation
Trauma-Focused CBT for anxiety, stress, and unhelpful thought patterns
Child–Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) to support early attachment and bonding
Parts work, mindfulness, and metaphor to explore internal experiences gently
Psychodynamic and depth-oriented work to make meaning of past experiences
Annie’s style is direct, deeply warm, and collaborative. Clients often describe her as someone who listens closely, helps them name what feels hard to say, and supports real-life change without pressure or judgment.
What Clients Can Expect
Clients working with Annie often experience:
Greater emotional regulation and calm
Increased confidence in parenting and caregiving
Healing from birth-related or relational trauma
Stronger connection to themselves and their relationships
A deeper sense of clarity during major life transitions
Annie believes therapy should feel grounding, empowering, and supportive — especially during the perinatal period.
Services, Availability, & Insurance
Session Format: In-person therapy in Santa Barbara and virtual therapy across California
Languages: English and Spanish | Terapia disponible para familias bilingües y biculturales.
Populations Served: Individuals, couples, and parent–child dyads
Availability: Fridays and select weekday evenings
Specialty Offering:
Integrating Your Birth Story – a 6-week virtual therapy group for birthing parents to process and honor their birth experienceInsurance Accepted: Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare (Optum)
Practicing under the supervision of Allison Lieberman, LMFT, PMH-C
If you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or early parenthood and are looking for trauma-informed, bilingual support, Annie would be honored to walk alongside you.
A consultation is simply a conversation — no pressure or commitment.