Anchorage, AK Local Support & Community Resources

Karen Cooper is a highly skilled counselor with over twenty-three years of experience in helping adults navigate the complexities of trauma, PTSD, relationship issues, and sexual addiction. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with prominent leaders in the field, including Dr. Robert Weiss, PhD, and has mastered Dr. Patrick Carnes's PhD task-based recovery model for sex addiction. Deeply embedded in the recovery community, Karen possesses the unique ability to empathize with her clients, providing nuanced understanding and expert support for those facing challenges that disrupt healthy sobriety. Recognizing that personal and relational difficulties often stem from underlying mental health issues and past traumas, she effectively addresses self-destructive behaviors that arise in response to distress. Employing a comprehensive approach that includes mindfulness-based practices, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and trauma-focused strategies, Karen is dedicated to facilitating healing. Whether an individual is new to recovery or someone seeking assistance with established sexual compulsivity that impacts their mental and emotional well-being, she offers the professional guidance necessary to navigate their path to recovery. Licensed in both Washington and Alaska, Karen provides engaging telehealth services as well as in-person sessions.

Michael Aanavi is a dedicated therapist who draws on a diverse range of psychological practices, including Jungian, existential, and relational psychologies, alongside teachings from the world's great spiritual paths, particularly the Buddhist and Daoist traditions. His work transcends traditional cognitive and insight-driven methods; it embodies an energetic practice that embraces dreams, intuition, meditation, and the imaginal process, recognizing that discovering one's unique purpose is vital for healing both psyche and body. As a licensed acupuncturist, he seamlessly integrates acupuncture and elements of Chinese medicine into his psychotherapy, creating a holistic approach. Michael's expertise encompasses a wide array of emotional, physical, spiritual, and mind-body issues, including anxiety, depression, personal and intergenerational trauma, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and energy depletion. He is particularly attuned to individuals grappling with identity, direction, and life path, offering support to those who feel stuck, unwell, or unfulfilled, as well as to those wishing to deepen their spirituality and connection to their sense of purpose.

Ashley Barrera is a compassionate and skilled Licensed Marital and Family Therapist who works with teens, adults, couples, and families navigating a diverse range of mental health and relationship challenges. She firmly believes that each individual possesses unique abilities and strengths that can lead to a healthier and more fulfilling life. However, accessing and applying these tools can sometimes feel overwhelming, leading to dissatisfaction in various aspects of life and relationships. As a dedicated therapist, Ashley guides her clients on a journey of self-discovery, helping them identify and harness their inherent strengths to achieve greater satisfaction and fulfillment. Her areas of specialization encompass relationship issues, including dating and cohabitation, marriage, separation, divorce, remarriage, blended family dynamics, parenting, and co-parenting concerns. With Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (GMCT), she incorporates this evidence-based approach to foster healthier relationships and strengthen connections among couples. Her warm and empathetic approach makes her a trusted partner in navigating life's complexities.