Anne O’Neill Riggenbach, M Ed., CMHC- Psychotherapist

(she/her/hers)

My Background:

For my clients, I hope that coming to therapy will be an empowering choice. I seek to create a non-judgemental environment that fosters self-belief and self-compassion. I believe in a strength based and collaborative approach to therapy. When therapy works well it leads us to insights and provides skills that help us cope with the difficulties of life, while assisting us in letting go of the judgments and biases that get in our way. As a client you have everything within yourself to achieve growth, as a counselor I am a tool to assist you in uncovering and encouraging your own strengths.

It is my goal to empower my clients by utilizing evidence-based practices such as ACT and CBT to assist them in connecting with their values and moving towards a value driven life (informed by what you care most about). I lead with authenticity, humor and warmth to create a comfortable and respectful space for clients to explore and process their emotions. My clinical interests include perinatal mental health, coping with anxiety, depression, and negative self-talk, navigating family and interpersonal dynamics and life transitions (including to and from college or 1st job, young adulthood, parenthood, career, moving, empty nesting, and relationship transitions). Perinatal mental health is especially near to my heart. Working with my clients to care for their mental health whilst navigating fertility, pregnancy, the postpartum experience and parenting journeys is both rewarding and crucial during transition periods for families that can go largely unspoken about.

Therapy is a safe space to bring your authentic self. In periods of change it can feel like there is not a judgment-free place to honor the inherent difficulty of these life shifts. Together with my clients we work towards increasing positive healthy behaviors, reducing stress, improving their mood, and enhancing their communication skills. I seek to act as a mirror to my clients reflecting their strengths, values, and motivations back to them as they guide themselves towards acceptance and growth.

Education, Training, & Specialization:

I completed my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at DePaul University in 2023. Last academic year I was a student intern with Flourish and am happy to begin working with the team full time.