Meet Angela Bianco, ASW

A note from Thrive's founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman: 
Welcome to our latest blog series!  Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special. Since we have a team of 6, we will be sharing these blogs over the coming summer weeks! ​

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Tell us about you and why you wanted to become a therapist. 
Hey there! My name is Angela and becoming a therapist was never something I thought would be my career path. I went to school in New York for acting and studied in a Shakespeare Conservatory in London. I fell in love with the process of researching the human condition, looking for the subtext, and finding ways to empathize with the hundreds of characters that would come my way through theatre, television, and movies. I studied Psychology to understand more about the human experience and how the brain works. I loved it. I loved it so much that I moved to England to train as a Drama and Movement therapist and had the opportunity to complete a Master’s program that combined two passions. I learned how to be a psychotherapist armed with creative tools and interventions to help people of all ages to reconnect with their creativity and support them in moving through trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, anger, and everything in between. I wanted to learn more about the systems of care in America and contribute to a growing body of mental health professionals who destigmatize mental health diagnosis by treating the person as a whole and not just a diagnosis. I went back to school for a Master’s in Social Work and concentrated on Families and Children. I discovered a new passion called Family Therapy, in which, I encourage my clients to bring as many family members as will fit on the couch! I guess that doesn’t answer the “why”! I learn a new “why” each and everyday. Today, I am a therapist because I will hold hope when it feels like it’s too heavy to hold on your own. 

What do you love about being a therapist? 
I love having the honor of being a witness to a family or individuals growth process and the “ah-ha!” moments. I love being able to create a safe space for my clients to unpack their obstacles, hopes, dreams, and desires and then support them in learning new tools to add to their ever growing toolbox. 

How would you describe yourself as a therapist? 
Present. Honest. Curious. Empathic. Resourceful. 

Who do you love working with in therapy? 
I truly enjoy working with a variety of clients across the lifespan. It gives me joy to spend one session in the play therapy room with a five year client who is working out conflict with dinosaurs and the next supporting a mother and teenage daughter build their relationship through intimacy exercises. I am here to sit with the adult who is processing emotional blocks that are preventing them from reaching their goals to the couple who want to save their marriage. I love all these moments. 

Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist?  If so, describe it and tell us why you use that. 
One framework that I use with couples includes work by John and Julie Gottman. The approach not only supports and repairs relationships, it also strengthens existing happy couples. I enjoy walking couples through “building love maps” and witness their growth as they learn new things about their partner! 

Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life. 
I am currently working on becoming a certified Yin Yoga and Reiki practitioner. I am wildly passionate about using different healing modalities in my personal life and always looking for new ways to become energized and inspired by life!

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For more information about Angela and her work, please check out her bio here! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Angela, please also feel free to call our main number and ask for her or fill out our contact form here and note that you would prefer to work with Angela!