About
JoAnna Frazier McBride
Hi, I’m JoAnna Frazier McBride (she/her), a licensed therapist and the founder of Calming Reins Counseling.
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I’m a warm, direct, and practical clinician who believes real healing comes from honest connection, consistent support, and the willingness to show up — even when things are messy. I bring my full self into the therapy room and work collaboratively with clients to focus on what actually helps, blending structure with flexibility and always meeting people where they are.
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I’ve spent nearly a decade supporting kids, teens, adults, and families through anxiety, trauma, OCD, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm — across schools, homes, nonprofits, and private practice. I specialize in working with people navigating fear, relational stress, identity questions, and the tension between needing change and fearing it.
Location
Calming Reins operates out of Mountain Valley Psychological Services on a quiet farm in the heart of the Snoqualmie Valley — surrounded by wide pastures, forest edges, and neighboring flower fields and cattle ranches. This is my main office location, just outside Carnation, WA, and it’s where most sessions take place.
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Herds of elk often pass through the property, sometimes wading into the pond where ducks gather and horses graze nearby. In the warmer months, wildflowers bloom across the fields, and clients are welcome to walk the trails, pick a few along the way, and sit by the river to reflect, rest, or simply breathe.
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Whether we’re meeting indoors, outside by the pond, or walking the open pastures, the natural setting is an integral part of the experience — spacious, grounding, and deeply alive.
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In addition to the Carnation office, I also offer equine-assisted sessions at two private partner farms: Tail Spin Farm in Redmond and Blue Spruce Farm in Duvall. Each space offers its own peaceful rhythm and welcoming herd, and all are chosen with care to support connection, presence, and comfort.
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Curious about the horses you might meet in your session? Visit the Meet the Horses page to get to know them.
Professional Background
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Founder & Therapist – Calming Reins Counseling (2022–present)
Offering individual, family, and group therapy with options for nature-based and equine-assisted work. I lead weekly DBT groups for teens and adults, a monthly parent group, and a Facing Fears anxiety/ERP group (co-led with Dr. Stephanie Pickering).
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School-Based Therapist – Larch Counseling (2020–2023)
Provided therapy in both school and office settings for middle school students and their families. Created a DBT-based wellness club, coordinated crisis support, and partnered with school staff for wraparound care.
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Clinician I – Catholic Community Services (2016–2018)
Delivered intensive in-home therapy and crisis response for families connected to the child welfare system. Worked closely with hospitals and caregivers to stabilize kids in acute emotional or behavioral crisis.
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Intern Therapist – Navos & Camp Mariposa (2018–2020)
Provided trauma-informed individual and group therapy for children and families. Facilitated therapeutic activities in school, office, and camp settings.
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Program Associate – East Seattle Foundation (2020–present, part-time)
Support youth mental health funding and advise on trauma-informed programming for former foster and homeless students in higher education.
Advanced Training & Specializations
I continually invest in deepening my practice through training in trauma and emotion regulation therapies, including:
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — including adolescent/family-specific models
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Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT) — for people who struggle with overcontrol, perfectionism, or emotional loneliness
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Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) — for OCD, phobias, and anxiety
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Lifespan Integration — a gentle trauma therapy that helps people move beyond past stuck points
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SPACE (Yale Child Study Center) — a parent-based approach for childhood anxiety and OCD
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Therapeutic Writing & Poetry — trained through The Pongo Project
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Equine-Assisted Trauma Therapy — through The Natural Lifemanship Institute
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Nature-Based Therapy & Animal-Assisted Work — blending relational neuroscience with the calming presence of the natural world​
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Whether we’re in an office, walking outside, or standing in a pasture, I aim to create a space where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to move toward what matters — with clarity, care, and a sense of possibility.