Anna Pirkl

Anna Pirkl is a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical art therapist, author, and trainer specializing in complex trauma, substance abuse, relapse prevention, and art therapy. She transitioned from a career in market research to psychotherapy after volunteer experiences and a profound personal healing through jiu-jitsu, which inspired her to co-author Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu with Jamie Marich. In the book, she explores trauma-informed martial arts and its therapeutic benefits, and she provides seminars for mental health professionals and martial arts instructors. She also authored 12 Creative Experiences for Personal Growth and Recovery, drawing on her art therapy background to aid addiction recovery. Anna has practiced individual and group psychotherapy for 12 years and is launching Mental Muscle Collective to help people build mental strength across the spectrum from illness to wellness. She holds an MA in Clinical Art Therapy/MFT from Loyola Marymount University, a certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from the University of the Pacific, and completed an individual major in Native American Enterprises at the University of Wisconsin. She maintains membership in the California Association of Marital and Family Therapists and has volunteered for 6 years at a battered woman's shelter, 8 years as a paraprofessional counselor for Beach Cities Health District, and 10 years on the South Bay Mental Health Task Force. Her office is located in Redondo Beach, California.