Exploring Life & Business with Anna Mccarthy, M.a., Ph.d of Private Practice/ CoFounder and Chief Clinical Officer @ Thru

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Mccarthy, M.a., Ph.d

Anna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My first career was in TV production, but after moving from London to Los Angeles, I decided that “light entertainment wouldn’t be fulfilling when I was 50” (how wise I was at 20!!). I pursued my BA, MA, and PhD and launched a 25+ year career in the mental health field. To date, I have worked at a group home for abused children, a locked psychiatric hospital, the VA healthcare system, various residential and intensive outpatient programmes, co-founded residential and intensive outpatient programmes, private practice, telehealth….Basically, every level of mental healthcare we currently have in existence.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There is nothing smooth about moving across the world, and putting yourself through university and graduate school. As an undergrad, I was waitressing at Disneyland and on the college swim team. I was so tired, I once fell asleep, in my car, at a traffic light, and woke up to find the people in the car next to me laughing at me!!!!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Private Practice/ CoFounder and Chief Clinical Officer @ Thru?
I have had a robust private practice in Newport Beach, California, for 14 + years. I love doing face-to-face work, and specialize in treating adults with a broad range of mental health and life challenges.

I’m also the co-founder of a national telehealth platform (www.thru.health). Our mission is to be able to provide mental health services across the nation to people who otherwise might not be able to access excellent clinical care. I so strongly believe that mental health services are not just for the few, the fortunate, and the famous. Everyone deserves excellent clinical care. As a society, as a result of COVID-19, we have come to learn that telehealth care is a viable way to deliver healthcare services. This is a game-changer if you have mobility issues, transportation issues, availability issues etc.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I am a HUGE fan of HEALTHY risk-taking. I tell my patients all the time that we never will fully know our worth, if we are lying on the sofa, with the remote control in our hand.

My biggest successes, and stressors, have come from a lifetime of taking healthy risks….from moving across the world, to applying for graduate school, to leaving the safety of a steady pay cheque at the VA Healthcare System to launch my private practice. The list is long!

I love the quote, “all good things stem from courage.” It’s true. Self-esteem and self-worth are not born out of playing it safe. They are the result of conquering fears, expanding horizons, embracing challenges, and growing.

I could talk all day on this topic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drannamccarthy.com
• Other: https://Www.thru.health