For more than six decades, Anna S. Rickell, MS has been a renowned authority in the fields of analysis, clinical hypnosis, and group therapy. In 1969, she opened her private practice, through which continues to excel in providing consulting and therapy services. A longtime Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice, she has long dedicated her expertise to helping others, particularly during times of crisis. For 11 years now, she works with grief groups at her local First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and conducts debriefings for those affected by such critical incidents as armed robbery.

Backed by a strong education, Ms. Rickell earned an Associate of Applied Science at Columbia Central University and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Meredith College in 1962. She attributes much of her success to Dr. Jones, a professor at Meredith, whose teaching methods had a significant impact on her. Dr. Jones once said, “You educate a man, you educate an individual; if you educate a woman, you educate a family.” She additionally took resource courses at Meredith that were so thorough and beneficial that when she attended Columbia University afterward, she didn’t have to take a generally-required exam on research methodologies. She went on to attain a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Science in social work from Columbia in 1969.

In addition to her work within her private practice, Ms. Rickell is a founding member of the American Board of Clinical Social Work, a group in which she also served as the Ethics Chair for 15 years. Earlier in her career, she was recognized with a “Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Leadership to Strengthen Individuals and Family Life” in 1980 for work she did with the Family Service Agency in Northern California, a “Certificate of Recognition for Six Years of Service as a Consultant” in 1992, and more recently certificates for contributions to the field in 2017 and 2018. She’s also lent her expertise for many years to a small clinic in East Harlem and assisted people in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when many had relocated to New York at the time.

Looking toward the future, Ms. Rickell plans to continue running her Grief Group at the church. Even after more than 50 years, she also intends to bolster her training in the field, while still holding her license for private practice and insurance coverages. In addition to group sessions, she remains available to see individual patients.