Pain, Sleep, and Trauma Therapist Licensed in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida
About Annie Miller
Chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, or trauma—these symptoms are debilitating and can make you feel hopeless about ever getting better.
If you’re struggling with any of these issues, I’m glad you’re here. You can heal your chronic symptoms if you have the right knowledge and tools.
From pain reprocessing therapy to insomnia treatment, my therapeutic techniques connect the mind and body and work to address the root cause of your symptoms. I typically use strategies like breathing techniques and mindfulness, in addition to evidence-based therapies, to help encourage you to soothe your nervous system. I’ve trained the therapists in my practice in all of these techniques, and we collaborate regularly as a team.
If you’ve dealt with ongoing insomnia, you may be worrying about sleep all night and even during the day. You might be exhausted throughout the day and up to bedtime, but once you get in bed, you feel wired. Your brain starts worrying about everything in your life, and it’s impossible to shut your brain off and get rest.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-i, is an insomnia therapy that doesn’t involve medication.
Here’s how we’ll work together during your in-person or online insomnia therapy sessions:
- We'll start by using a sleep diary to track your sleep and notice what habits may be leading to insomnia.
- We'll discuss the components of CBT-i and set up a sleep schedule that will work specifically for you.
- We'll monitor your progress and any issues that come up along the way and strategize for how to work through them.
- We'll find your optimal sleep window, work to reduce any fears or negative thoughts about sleep, and find a schedule that will work for the long term.
Pain Reprocessing Therapy
for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a frustrating experience. You might worry about what caused your pain, how long it will last, how you’ll get your tasks done, and how you can fix it. You’ve probably tried everything out there to fix your pain—medications, injections, surgery, and “natural” treatments—and nothing has worked.
I know how it feels to be caught in an endless cycle of symptoms because I’ve been in your shoes—and I know how real and frustrating chronic pain is.
Through online or in-person pain therapy, or by taking my Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) online course, you can change the way your brain processes pain by rewiring your response to pain and using techniques to calm your nervous system.
Start Therapy with Annie Miller for Anxiety or Trauma Symptoms
Do you find your mind is preoccupied with anxious thoughts, or you are replaying old experiences, unable to let go?
If you’re dealing with symptoms of anxiety or you’re having trouble moving past a traumatic event, our therapy will help you develop healthy habits and responses. Therapies backed by research, like EMDR and CBT are clinically proven to help symptoms of anxiety and trauma.
Therapy is about learning and growing, but it’s also about a connection to your therapist. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please feel free to contact me for more information or to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.
I’m Annie Miller, a licensed therapist, and former chronic pain sufferer. I’ve learned from my own experience with pain and symptoms, and I’m passionate about helping others to overcome pain, insomnia, anxiety, and trauma.
I have been a therapist for over 15 years, and I’ve gained knowledge about neuroscience and how we can rewire our brain and nervous system to improve physical and mental symptoms. My background and experience, along with my own path to overcoming symptoms, have led me to where I am today.
I earned my master’s degree in social work (MSW) from the University of Chicago. I worked in a few different hospitals, including Johns Hopkins Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and Montefiore Medical Center in New York. These experiences taught me how to work with chronic illness, medical-related issues, sleep disorders, and chronic pain. I’ve also been trained in CBT for insomnia (CBT-i) and EMDR therapy, and I have a broad understanding of sleep disorders and trauma. I’ve completed several programs in Behavioral Sleep Medicine and participate in regular supervision training. I’m passionate about helping people sleep better by overcoming insomnia and chronic nightmares. More recently, I earned a certificate in pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), and I’m one of a select number of therapists trained in this technique.
I enjoy using EMDR therapy, CBT-i, and PRT in my practice to help clients adopt healthier habits. I’ve also studied neuroplasticity, and I integrate brain-based strategies into each of my sessions. My strongest areas of expertise are anxiety, insomnia, teen therapy, and chronic pain. My goal is to help you create real change—even if therapy hasn’t worked for you in the past.
Whether you’re interested in treating insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety, or trauma, the first session is an assessment. In the initial appointment, I want to learn more about the issues you’re struggling with, your background and history, and your goals for what you hope to change. From there, I work with you to develop a plan for moving forward together.
If we’re treating insomnia with sleep therapy, I use an evidence-based protocol that works in up to 80% of insomnia sufferers. CBT for insomnia is a therapeutic approach that usually requires about 6–8 sessions. For chronic pain, pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is a clinically proven treatment that uses mindfulness in addition to brain rewiring strategies to work on changing your relationship with chronic pain, and, for many, it provides relief from chronic pain. EMDR is an effective therapy that can work for anxiety, trauma, and recurring negative thoughts.
Education
- Master of Social Work, University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania
Training
- CBT-i Basic & Advanced Training
- CBT-i Certificate Course
- Child & Adolescent Certificate Program at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies
- EMDR Basic Training with EMDR of Greater Washington
- DBT Skills Training
- Mindfulness for Mental Health Professionals Training
Affiliations
- Maryland Sleep Society
- National Association of Social Workers
- Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work
- EMDR International Association
Get in touch
Book a free consultation by filling out the form below.