Alternative Ways to Life Counseling & Therapy
A Safe Space
Providing Therapy Services Across California
Welcome to Alternative Ways to Life Counseling and Therapy. I am Anna Calcanas, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing therapy services to individuals, couples, and families throughout California. Services are offered statewide through secure telehealth, with in person sessions available in Upland, California.
Therapy can be helpful at many points in life, whether you are facing ongoing emotional concerns, navigating changes, or seeking greater clarity and balance. People often seek therapy to better understand patterns that feel limiting, improve emotional regulation, strengthen relationships, or develop healthier ways of responding to stress.
Therapy supports growth by helping clients build practical coping skills, improve communication, explore boundaries, and make choices that feel more aligned with their values. It can also support processing past experiences and increasing self awareness, confidence, and emotional resilience.
My role is to provide professional support within a structured and confidential setting, with services tailored to your goals and circumstances. Therapy is approached with care, intention, and respect, supporting meaningful progress over time.
What You Can Expect
Sessions are structured around your goals and paced in a way that feels manageable for you. Therapy is individualized and informed by evidence-based and trauma-informed practices within the scope of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy.
People seek therapy for a variety of reasons. The areas listed below reflect some of the concerns commonly addressed in therapy. This list is not exhaustive, and support is tailored to each person’s unique experiences, goals, and circumstances.
Areas of Focus
- Anxiety, excessive worry, and panic
- Depression, low mood, and emotional heaviness
- Trauma and stress related concerns
- Relationship, couples, and family challenges
- Parenting stress and life adjustments
- Emotional regulation, coping skills, and overwhelm
- Communication, boundaries, and conflict patterns
- Grief, loss, and major life transitions
- Self -esteem, identity, and personal growth
Creating Space for Growth and Connection
Choosing to begin therapy is a meaningful step. You may be seeking a space where you feel heard, understood, and supported as you navigate challenges and strengthen your connection with yourself and others.
From the first conversation and throughout your work together, the focus is on creating an environment that feels respectful, private, and caring.
Whether you are looking for individual support, couples work, or family therapy, therapy offers a place where reflection, growth, and meaningful change can happen at a pace that feels right for you.
Anna Calcanas, LMFT
I provide therapy to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. My work is grounded in offering a steady, respectful, and emotionally safe space where clients can engage in the therapeutic process at a pace that feels appropriate for them.
Sessions are intentional and structured while remaining flexible to each client’s needs. The focus is on understanding emotional and relational patterns, strengthening coping and regulation skills, and supporting insight that leads to meaningful and sustainable change. Care is taken to ensure the work is supportive, culturally responsive, and aligned with each client’s goals and circumstances.
I approach therapy with warmth, thoughtfulness, and a grounded presence. Rather than offering directives or quick solutions, I work collaboratively with clients to deepen understanding, build effective tools, and support growth in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.