Annia Raysberg, LMFT: Addiction Recovery, Trauma Healing, and Holding Space with Heart

Interview by Heather Anderson

Annia Raysberg never set out to become the go-to therapist for addiction recovery. But early in her career, she found herself repeatedly drawn to the work—first in drug and alcohol treatment centers, and eventually in private practice. Over time, she developed a deep understanding of what real healing looks like and how to walk with clients through the complex process of recovery. Today, she’s not just a licensed therapist with advanced trauma training; she’s someone who lives and breathes the world of recovery.

With a hands-on, tool-oriented approach, Annia supports adults navigating everything from sobriety and trauma to anxiety, parenthood, and grief. She also offers support for adult children of alcoholics and mentally ill parents—clients who are often quietly carrying the weight of their family histories while raising families of their own.

In this thoughtful conversation, Annia shares how she approaches deep recovery work, the tools she uses to help clients break generational cycles, and why the guinea pigs in her office might be the co-therapists you didn’t know you needed.

You’ve built a reputation as the person people call when they’re serious about healing addiction—whether it’s substances, codependency, or deeper recovery work. What drew you to this focus, and what keeps you committed to it today?

My interest in psychology started back in high school when I took my very first class on the subject—it just clicked. That spark led me to study Psychology at UC Berkeley. After graduating, I explored a few different career paths, but none of them felt truly fulfilling.

As an immigrant, I grew up in a culture that really emphasized traditional professions—law, business, medicine—so it took some time (and soul-searching) to give myself permission to pursue something less conventional. But through a series of transformative life experiences, I came to realize that mental health—particularly addiction recovery—was where I felt called.

I eventually went back to school to earn my Master’s degree and spent seven years training and working in four different drug and alcohol treatment centers. That hands-on experience solidified my passion for this work. To this day, I remain deeply committed to supporting people through the healing process, whether they're navigating substance use, codependency, or deeper recovery work.

“There’s this misconception that if you struggled with addiction, you must be a bad parent or a bad person. But I believe addiction is a disease—and it can hijack even the most loving, devoted parent.”
— Annia Raysberg

You’re not just addiction-informed—you’re deeply integrated into the 12-step world, you support clients navigating recovery programs, and you even started a 12-step group for other therapists. What does that kind of lived-in expertise bring to the room for your clients?

It means clients don’t have to waste time explaining things. They don’t have to define what a sponsor is or walk me through the steps—they know I get it. And for clients already clean and sober, I can help them dive deeper into trauma work or EMDR without feeling like they’re starting from scratch with a therapist who doesn’t understand their background.

What’s different about working with you for someone who’s been burned by bad therapy—or never felt understood in a recovery space?

I’m not a blank slate therapist. I show up as a real person. I’ll make book recommendations. I’ll suggest resources, meetings, or alternatives if someone’s feeling stuck. The work is collaborative, and I bring my whole self to the table.

There’s so much shame and silence that surrounds addiction, especially for moms and caregivers. What kinds of patterns do you help your clients break free from—and what’s one misconception about addiction recovery you wish more people understood?

There’s this misconception that if you struggled with addiction, you must be a bad parent or a bad person. But I believe addiction is a disease—and it can hijack even the most loving, devoted parent. I create a nonjudgmental space where we can work through those feelings and start to break harmful cycles.

If someone is still using and they want to stop, I help them figure out a path to recovery. That might mean exploring treatment, finding meetings, or identifying other levels of care. For people already in recovery, we often shift to working on underlying trauma, shame, or emotional patterns that haven't been addressed yet.

Do you work with people who don’t want to participate in 12-step groups?

Absolutely. I tailor each person’s plan to their needs. Some people thrive in 12-step groups. Others want nothing to do with them. I’ve had clients get sober just by working with me one-on-one, using books, therapy, and personal tools. There are also great alternatives to 12-step, like SMART Recovery, LifeRing, or Refuge Recovery. My job is to help clients explore all the options and find what fits.

Any favorite book recs from your personal recovery library?

Yes! I have a huge library and often share these with clients:

  • Passages Through Recovery by Terence T. Gorski

  • Staying Sober Without God by Jeffrey Munn

  • Stop the Chaos workbook by Allen Tighe

  • A Woman’s Way Through the 12 Steps by Stephanie Covington

  • Recovery by Choice (LifeRing)

I also have books focused on food, sex, and love addiction—and books for family members navigating someone else’s addiction.

Do you support family members, too?

I do. In fact, I really love that part of my work. Family members often come in focused on the person struggling with addiction, but they’re hurting, too. I help them make sense of what’s going on, set boundaries, and get support for themselves. That includes people in Al-Anon or Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA).

From addiction to trauma, anxiety to adult children of alcoholics—you hold space for a lot. But your approach is anything but passive. How would you describe your style in session?

I’m collaborative, tool-oriented, and direct. I bring resources—books, workbooks, recovery meeting options, referrals to rehabs, and more. I’ve built a big network over the years, and I want my clients to benefit from that. I’m not just sitting quietly and nodding—I’m engaging, responding, and helping clients move forward.

You’re certified in EMDR, and that’s a game-changer for clients dealing with trauma. For someone new to EMDR, what is it—and what can they expect?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s an eight-phase therapy used to help people process traumatic memories. It’s most known for PTSD treatment but can also help with addiction, anxiety, and more.

We don’t jump into trauma work right away. First, we stabilize and assess. For some, EMDR can begin by session three or four. For others, especially with complex PTSD, it might take months to get ready. The goal is to reduce the emotional disturbance connected to traumatic memories—so you still remember the event, but it no longer overwhelms you.

Addiction and recovery are a big part of your work—but they’re not the whole picture. What else do you specialize in?

  • Anxiety and mood disorders

  • Women’s issues, pregnancy, postpartum

  • Relationship challenges, dating, marriage

  • Cross-cultural identity and immigration

  • Grief and loss

  • Adult children of alcoholics or mentally ill parents

  • Clients navigating chronic illness

  • EMDR and trauma recovery

  • Support for those with ongoing legal issues (I also write letters for court)

I’m also an immigrant myself—I moved here from Eastern Europe at 15—and I love supporting clients navigating cultural differences or parenting with an intercultural lens.

Your work with adult children of alcoholics and mentally ill parents feels especially important. How do you help people break generational cycles?

A lot of my clients are trying to raise healthy families while still carrying the weight of their own. We work together to name those patterns, understand where they came from, and find ways to parent differently.

We don’t erase the past, but we do learn how to make different choices moving forward.

You’re based in Castro Valley and offer telehealth across California—but you’ve also made a name for yourself in the therapist community. What drives you to build connection for the helpers, too?

Private practice can be isolating. I started a 12-step group for therapists, I facilitate a peer consultation group, and I host networking events. Partly, it’s for me—I love learning and staying connected. But it also makes me a better therapist. I bring that richness and collective wisdom back to my clients.

What do you do differently to create safety for clients who may have never felt fully seen in a therapist’s office before?

I’m affirming of LGBTQ+ clients, neurodivergent folks, people of color, immigrants, and those from diverse faith or non-faith backgrounds. I make that clear in my materials and how I show up. I’m not mysterious—I share who I am, and I answer clients’ questions if it helps them feel safe.

For the exhausted mom who’s secretly Googling “do I need therapy?” at midnight… how would she know if you’re the right fit?

If you’re curious, reach out. I offer free 15-minute consults over video so you can get a feel for me and see if it clicks. Therapy is so much about the relationship—if it feels safe, connected, and collaborative, that’s a great sign.

What’s one unexpected thing that helps you decompress after a long day of holding space for others?

Guinea pigs. Yes, really. I have two—Browny and Ginger—and my family calls it “pig time.” My son and I hold and pet them pretty much every night, and even my husband is in on it now. They’re ridiculously cute and surprisingly calming. And yes, I’ve offered guinea pig cuddles to in-person clients before, too.

If we peeked into your world off-duty, what would we find?

I love Japanese food. I watch medical dramas and crime shows while I bike at night after my son goes to bed. I speak Russian and some Spanish and German. I try to travel to a new country every year. And I’m raising a semi-trilingual 8-year-old who understands all three languages. It’s not always easy, but I love it.

What’s one takeaway you hope people have after reading this—or one thing you wish more people understood about therapy?

That you don’t have to do this alone. Therapy is a space just for you—with someone who brings tools, experience, and real compassion. I have my own therapist, too. Everyone deserves someone in their corner.

Want to explore working together?

Connect with Annia on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

You can also find her on The M List, The Mamahood’s searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with her inside The Club membership for women Founders.

Heather Anderson