Ann O’Brien, LCSW, MSc
Founder, Clinical Director
Ann brings 20 years of clinical experience to her work. She founded Aurora Therapy Institute because, after years of solo practice, she wanted to expand her reach. With her love of learning, she wanted to create a learning environment for other Therapists to grow their expertise.
Ann operates from a humanistic, strengths-based and holistic perspective. She is trained in EMDR, Grief Counseling, Integrative Medicine for Mental Health, the Gottman Method and Developmental Model for Couples Counseling, and is a Sex Certified Therapy Informed Professional. She has advanced training in multiple types of Meditation.
In addition to private practice, Ann has been a Therapist at UCLA’s Rape Treatment Center, St. Francis Children’s Counseling Center and served on the Board of Directors at the Sexual Assault Resource Center in Portland, OR. Ann also served as Adjunct Faculty at USC’s School of Social Work from 2009-2018. There, she taught Clinical and Field Social Work courses and supervised graduate students in their Field Practicums. Ann is Bilingual (English/Spanish), with extensive clinical experience with immigrant families in Los Angeles and some international development work.
Prior to being a Therapist, Ann was a Researcher at UCLA’s Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, where she was the Director of a study on Methamphetamine Abuse. Ann appreciates using research to inform her practice.
Ann is happily married and has two children. Ann is also licensed in Florida.
Education
Yale University, BA History
London School of Economics, MS (Social Research Methods & Social Psychology)
University of Southern California, MSW