anchor & bloom
counseling
a compassionate space for growth & self-discovery
Common Areas of Support
Anxiety-Overwhelm
Anxiety and overwhelm can make everyday life feel exhausting. Whether you are carrying constant worry, pressure to keep everything together, burnout, or a nervous system that feels stuck on high alert, we can work together to slow things down, understand what is underneath, and build coping tools that feel realistic and supportive.
Depression-Grief-Trauma
Depression, grief, and trauma can feel lonely, heavy, and hard to put into words. You may be moving through loss, experiencing numbness, hopelessness, low motivation, painful memories, or a sense of disconnection from yourself and others. My goal is to provide a compassionate space to process what you are carrying, honor what has changed, and gently find your way toward steadiness and possibility.
Life Transitions
Life transitions can bring up many emotions at once: hope, fear, uncertainty, grief, and growth. Whether you are navigating a relationship change, career shift, identity exploration, school, caregiving, relocation, or a new season of life, therapy can offer support as you make sense of what is changing and move forward with clarity.
Affirming Care
I offer affirming care for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent clients. This is a space where you can show up as you are, without needing to mask or minimize your experience. Together, we can explore identity, relationships, self-understanding, and parts of your life that might feel complicated. We can also build practical supports such as coping skills, executive functioning strategies, emotional regulation tools, and skill-building that honor your strengths, needs, and lived experience.
Therapy with me is collaborative, relational, and client-centered. I believe you know your life, lived experience, and needs better than anyone. My role is to provide care, curiosity, and clinical grounding as we explore what you're carrying, make sense of patterns, and move toward what feels more rooted, meaningful, and aligned.
I strive to create a space where you can show up as you are, process difficult experiences, and reflect honestly without pressure to have everything figured out. Our work together may include exploration, insight, skill-building, and movement toward change, always at a pace that honors your needs and readiness. To me, therapy is often about finding balance between feeling grounded and opening yourself to growth, possibility, and change.
My style is warm and relational, while also direct and transparent when that feels helpful. I believe gentle, thoughtful honesty can be a meaningful part of the therapeutic process, especially when it is offered with care, respect, and trust.
I work with clients from diverse backgrounds and identities, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC clients. As a white therapist, I approach this work with cultural humility and an awareness of how systemic, cultural, and social contexts shape identity and lived experience. I remain committed to ongoing learning, listening, accountability, and openness to feedback.
I also believe the relationship between you and your therapist matters. Feeling comfortable, understood, and supported is an important part of effective therapy. If at any point working together does not feel like the right fit, I will not take that personally and work with you to help you find another therapist. What matters most to me is that you find a therapist and a space that feel right for you, because that connection is what allows meaningful therapeutic work to happen.
My Approach
Reach out by Email
Send me an email sharing a little about what brings you to therapy, whether you're looking for a specific type of support, and any questions you may have.
Next Steps
Consultation
A consultation is optional and is meant to be brief. It can be a helpful way to learn more about the therapy process, ask questions, and see if working together feels like a good fit. I am also happy to answer any questions via email.
Consent & Intake Forms
Before our first session, you will need to complete consent forms and intake paperwork. Consent forms provide you with information about me, my practice, and your rights as a client, while the intake forms help me better understand what brings you to therapy.
Appointment
In our first session, we'll talk more about your history, current concerns, and what you're hoping to get from therapy. There's no pressure to have everything figured out.
about the therapist
amber barbieri
I grew up in San Jose, California, and later spent nearly ten years living on Kaua’i—two places that shaped me in different, yet equally meaningful ways. Kaua’i, in particular, changed the course of my life. It was there that I decided to pursue my long-held dream of becoming a therapist, and where I began my work in victim advocacy. Over nearly six years, I served in various advocacy roles, received extensive trauma-informed training, and supported survivors and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence. That experience deeply shaped me and continues to inform who I am today.
My own therapy journey began when I was thirteen, with a therapist who truly changed my life. That experience stayed with me and planted a seed that grew over time. It continues to guide how I move through the world and how I show up in the therapy space, with curiosity, empathy, and care. I feel so grateful to be able to do this work. I believe being a therapist is a privilege and that therapy can be a powerful space for healing, growth, and meaningful change.
The name anchor & bloom comes from my belief that therapy can be both a place to feel grounded and a place to grow. Anchor represents steadiness, strength, and a stable sense of self—qualities we all carry within us, even when they feel hard to access. Bloom represents growth, possibility, and the unique ways each of us changes over time. Stability and growth look different for everyone, and part of our work together is discovering what that balance looks like for you.
I completed my undergraduate degree through Oregon State University, where I majored in Psychology and minored in Human Development and Family Science. I went on to earn my graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Oklahoma. I have trained in various therapeutic modalities and often draw from different approaches to tailor the work to the client's unique needs, goals, and lived experiences.
Wanting to be closer to family and friends, I recently moved to the Pacific Northwest with my dog Otis, who keeps me busy and regularly reminds me to slow down, stay present, and enjoy life one day at a time.
LMHC-A, Professional Counselor Associate
Contact Information
You can contact me via email at amber@anchorandbloomcounseling.org or call 360-592-3639. I do my best to respond as quickly as possible, and you can expect to hear back within 24-72 hours.