Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Halliday, LMHC-QS, CST.
Hi Anna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My path into this work has always felt organic and authentic. I come from a family of healing professionals —people in medicine, social work, and caregiving— so holding space for others was something I grew up around and developed a deep respect for. Psychology and English were the subjects I connected with most, and I’ve always been drawn to understanding human behavior and helping people make sense of their inner world through narrative-building.
That passion led me to earn my graduate degree from Columbia University in New York, where I began my clinical training and worked in a variety of counseling and community settings. Those early experiences shaped my commitment to compassionate, inclusive care — and eventually inspired me to return home to Miami, where I continued growing my practice and deepened my specialization in s*x therapy.
After working in a range of clinical environments — including community mental health and private practice — I reached a point in my career where I realized I needed something different. That clarity led me to leave a practice that wasn’t aligned with my values, open my own solo practice, and eventually build Healing Space Therapy Collective.
Healing Space was born out of a desire to create something more affirming— for both clients and clinicians. I wanted to offer care that felt warm, holistic, and inclusive— and to build a team culture rooted in mutual respect, integrity, and sustainability. Today, we’re a collective of therapists and wellness professionals offering therapy and coaching across Florida, with a special focus on mental health, s*xuality, and relationships.
It’s been a gradual and at times challenging journey — one I’m proud of not just because of what we’ve built, but because of how we’ve built it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path that led me here has been anything but straightforward — full of growth, grit, and moments that challenged me to keep evolving.
After earning my graduate degree from Columbia University in New York, I spent years commuting across four boroughs, working at three different practices just to accumulate the hours required for licensure. It was exhausting — mentally, physically, and financially — but I was driven by a deep sense of purpose. I wanted to understand people, support their healing, and create a meaningful career on my own terms.
Once I became licensed, I made the decision to return home to Miami — without a job lined up and very little financial cushion. Rebuilding from scratch, both professionally and personally, wasn’t easy. I worked at three different group practices across Miami while gradually building a full caseload and learning the ins and outs of private practice along the way. (Side note: I also opened a vegan catering company during that time — a passion project that filled my weekends and left little room for rest.)
Eventually, fueled by a desire to hone my skills independently, I launched a virtual private practice. By some stroke of luck, it went live just days before the COVID-19 lockdown was announced — and that timing allowed me to keep supporting clients through one of the most uncertain periods of our time.
As I deepened my clinical work and pursued advanced training in s*x therapy, I made the difficult decision to leave the group practice that had been my financial anchor. I knew I wanted something more aligned — a space that reflected my values, honored the humanity of both clients and clinicians, and supported long-term sustainability. Along the way, I leaned into complex clinical cases, sought guidance from trusted mentors, and was fortunate to have a community that encouraged my growth.
Personally, I was navigating a lot as well. I bought a house, had my first baby, and continued seeing clients throughout my pregnancy and postpartum period — taking just four weeks of maternity leave as a self-employed therapist. I also live with chronic pain, and that experience has profoundly shaped how I view healing. I’ve come to believe that mental health cannot be separated from the body, our relationships, or the systems we live within.
That realization became the seed for Healing Space Therapy Collective — a group practice rooted in whole-person, integrative care. Our team supports individuals and couples across Florida with a focus on mental health, s*xuality, identity, and relationships, while honoring the importance of sleep, movement, boundaries, nourishment, and nervous system regulation in the healing process. I now wear many hats — therapist, practice owner, manager, admin, biller, marketer — and I’m still learning every day.
I’m proud of what we’ve built — and I’m deeply grateful for the people who helped make it possible. From my partner and family to friends, colleagues, and mentors, I’ve had the support of people who believed in my vision and invested in it with their time, love, and encouragement. Healing work doesn’t happen in isolation — and neither does building something meaningful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Healing Space Therapy Collective is a Miami-born mental health group practice with locations in Aventura and near Coral Gables, offering inclusive therapy for individuals and couples across Florida — and virtual coaching beyond the state. We specialize in helping people navigate anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, relationship and intimacy challenges, and chronic stress. Our approach is affirming, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that healing happens when people feel safe, understood, and empowered.
We offer a range of services, including individual talk therapy, relationship and couples counseling, s*x therapy, coaching, support letters, and hypnotherapy. All of our services are provided by skilled licensed, certified, and registered professionals with specialized training in their areas of focus.
What sets us apart is our commitment to whole-person, integrative care — not in the sense of combining physical treatments, but in how we hold space for the complexity of each person’s emotional, relational, and psychological experience. Our therapists offer depth-oriented, trauma-informed, and s*x-positive care, and we are known for creating spaces where clients can be fully themselves.
We also love partnering with other healing professionals and regularly host collaborative workshops and community events focused on mental health, s*xuality, identity, and self-care. These experiences offer opportunities for connection, reflection, and personal growth outside the therapy room. A crowd-favorite are our group hypnotherapy events, where participants can experience deep relaxation, mindset shifts, and inner exploration in a supportive, community-centered setting. These gatherings are part of our broader commitment to making healing tools more accessible, collaborative, and experiential — and they often fill up quickly!
We’re especially honored to serve clients navigating life and identity transitions, including those in kink and consensually non-monogamous relationships, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people seeking to deepen their relationships with themselves and others. Our work is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to honoring each client’s unique story.
At Healing Space, we believe therapy should feel human — not clinical or cold. Whether someone is working through something painful or simply seeking to grow, we’re here to support that journey with integrity, intention, and care.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I was born and raised in Miami — I’m a third-generation Miamian on one side and the child of an immigrant on the other — and I truly believe there’s no place like it. In all of my travels, I’ve never encountered a city with the same energy, rhythm, and soul. Miami is a unique blend of cultures, languages, flavors, and stories. That fusion creates something incredibly rich — a city that not only celebrates difference but, in many ways, thrives because of it.
I love the food, the art, the vibrant outdoor spaces, the architecture, the weather, and the deep health and wellness culture that runs through so many corners of this city. I especially love the intense pride people here have in their heritage, neighborhoods, and communities — it gives Miami its edge and its heart.
As a mental health professional, I also see how this diversity influences the emotional landscape of the city. So many of us are navigating identity, belonging, family legacy, and intergenerational stories — and Miami provides a unique backdrop to explore all of that. It’s a city where people are constantly adapting, evolving, and integrating who they are. That’s also what therapy is all about.
What I worry about, though, is that as more people realize how special Miami is and choose to move here, the locals — especially multigenerational families and small businesses — are getting priced out or pushed to the margins. I worry that the very culture that makes Miami what it is could shift in ways that aren’t inclusive of the people who built it.
Still, I’m hopeful. Miami has always been a city that adapts and accommodates difference. We’ve always been a place that supports small business, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural pride. My hope is that we can continue to grow in ways that stay rooted in our values — celebrating diversity, supporting community care, and making space for healing. That’s the optimistic spirit I try to bring into my work every day, and what I try to impart on the people I work with.
Pricing:
- Insurance accepted (Aetna and Cigna)
- Individual Therapy $90-$180
- Couples Therapy $120-$220
- Hypnotherapy $275+
- Workshops $30+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hstherapycollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hstherapycollective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563832649948
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/healing-space-therapy-collective-coral-gables-fl/1358816
Image Credits
Natalia Jhete
Chris Mejia
