Meet Anna Meehan | Licensed Clinical Social Worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Meehan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Being a helper has been engrained in my psyche since I was a child. Early on, a mentor of mine saw the calling in me and encouraged me to pursue a career in Social Work. I, of course, said, “Nah….” and went a got a degree in Studio Art. It didn’t take long, though, to recognize that the work I was making had much more of a therapeutic and experiential basis than most of my classmates’ work. My favorite artwork was the kind that really dug deep into peoples’ stories, and once I became brave enough, my own story. Fast forward- I had a hard time figuring out how to use my art degree in a way that felt true to me, so I went back to school and got a Masters degree in Social Work. Luckily my mentor had stayed in my ear about her intuition. For nearly a decade, I supported families and unaccompanied youth who were experiencing homelessness. It’s a role I am highly passionate about, and the need for this type of support is growing at an exponential rate here in Colorado; however, over the course of the pandemic I found myself in a deep and dark cycle of burnout. I struggled to go to work and see crises multiply tenfold on a daily basis, knowing that the caliber of resources my clients needed was not available. I stopped doing the things I loved, too emotionally drained to give myself to much of anything. I struggled to find joy and felt completely engulfed by negativity. It sounds silly, but having fun has always been my main driver, and I was having no fun at all. I knew it was time for a change.
Pathways was born out of the notion that I can be a helper and still have fun in my work life. I find that I connect with other people most deeply when doing the things I love, and I try to bring those things into my therapy sessions when they are a good fit. Many of my clients are confronting deeply-rooted trauma, and I find that incorporating things art making, writing, and being in nature often make for deeper connection in the space of vulnerability. Through my business, I feel like I am able to mold my work life into exactly what I want it to be- a space for people to confront darkness, develop deep connection, heal painful wounds, and foster a sense of purpose and fun.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have shaped my practice to attract clients who I relate to the best- people who feel like the can imagine the ideal version of themselves but who, for one reason or another, struggle to live into that person. I work well with adults who struggle with self-doubt, setting boundaries, people-pleasing, and codependency in relationships. I enjoy helping people determine the root cause of their mental or behavioral patterns, address how these patterns affects their lives, and help them establish coping skills to grow into a healthier way of thinking and being, however that looks for them. This has been lifelong work I’ve done in my personal life, and I try to show up for my clients in a way that says, “Hey, I’m human too. I know what this feels like. Let’s get you through this together.” In addition to therapy, I am also ecstatic to be able to offer neurofeedback! It’s a gentle brain training that helps your Central Nervous System regulate and reorganize itself to promote healing and optimal functioning. It is an incredible tool that can help alleviate symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, poor disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, addiction, traumatic brain injuries, and much more. It can be beneficial both in conjunction with talk therapy or as a stand alone service. What I love most about neurofeedback is that it offers a gentle and non-invasive way for people who may not be interested in talk therapy to receive therapeutic support they need.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always love taking my guests to Estes Park. It’s a special place for me that I came to know through my most fun job ever working as a camp counselor and wrangler at Cheley Colorado Camps. That area feels like magic to me, and I love to share it with anyone and everyone! An ideal day starts at Kind Coffee with a breakfast burrito and a mocha to go. Next we either hike or horseback ride our way through Rocky Mountain National Park to The Loch, Sandbeach Lake, or up Lily Mountain. After that we will be hungry, so it’s off to Bird and Jim for a big, juicy burger. In the throes of our full-on food coma, we will walk over to either MacDonald Book Shop or The Rock Shop to see what we see. After that, it’s not quite time to head home yet, so we will cap off the night with a couple of beers at Avante Garde or perhaps a slice of pecan pie from the Baldpate Inn.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to acknowledge my mentor, Anita. She recognized when I was young that I had a heart for therapeutic work. She never stopped speaking that to me, even when I didn’t have the ear the hear it. Once I recognized that she may know what she’s talking about, she was there to guide me in all aspects of the work- getting through graduate school, processing through complex ethical dilemmas, addressing life-altering burnout, encouraging me to think outside of the box, and brainstorming how to make my therapy business into exactly what I want it to be. I also want to acknowledge my husband, my family, my best friends, and my school-based work team. Starting a business is a rollercoaster, especially when you are a sensitive soul like me. Some days are, “I’m really doing it!” and others are, “what in the world am I doing?!” They have all been there for me on both kinds of days to either celebrate with me or encourage me to keep going and not give into self-doubt. I may be the owner of Pathways Counseling and Neurofeedback, but these folks are the backbone.

Website: www.pathwayscolo.com

Instagram: pathways_colorado

Facebook: Pathways Counseling and Neurofeedback

Image Credits
Professional photo- Eden Ingle Photography I took all of the other photos.