About Us
At Roots and Rays, the foundation of healing begins with a deep exploration of our roots—acknowledging where we started. These roots represent the resiliency of our ancestors and their stories, and also the deep, sometimes ancient wounds we carry. They remind us of our history and the experiences that have shaped us.
From this foundation, a small seedling breaks through the surface, reaching toward the light. Rays of sunlight symbolize hope and the bright illumination that offers respite from the darkness beneath the soil. These rays call to us, an invitation to strive, to expand, and to rise above our challenges.
Together, roots and rays embody the journey of healing—a harmonious interplay of grounding and growth, shadow and light. At Roots and Rays, we honor both the depths of our past and the promise of our future, creating a nurturing space for transformation and flourishing.
Our Mission
At Roots and Rays, our mission is to serve as compassionate guides on your healing journey. We understand that each person's path is unique, filled with both challenges and opportunities for growth. Drawing upon our diverse experiences and innovative, creative methods to foster therapeutic alliances that empower you, we are here to support you along the way.
We believe that the therapeutic relationship is a sacred space where trust and understanding thrive. Through our collaborative approach, we aim to create an environment that encourages open exploration, allowing you to delve into your experiences, emotions, and aspirations. By combining various therapeutic modalities, we tailor our approach to meet your individual needs, facilitating an authentic process of healing and transformation.
Our commitment extends beyond just providing therapy; we seek to inspire and motivate you to reach your fullest potential. We envision a world where individuals not only survive but truly flourish—where healing is a dynamic journey that enhances your well-being and enriches your life.
Together, we can uncover the strengths that lie within you, nurture your growth, and celebrate the unique beauty of your path. Your flourishing is at the heart of our mission, and we are dedicated to helping you thrive in every aspect of your life.
Meet Our Counselors:
Annie Novotny
LCPC, ATR-BC, EMDR- Trained
(She, Her, Hers)
Annie Novotny is the founder of Roots and Rays, a practice dedicated to collaborative healing. With a deep commitment to supporting sexual assault survivors and individuals navigating the aftermath of trauma, Annie views art therapy as a powerful medium for self-expression and healing. She believes wholeheartedly in the profound power of creative expression, recognizing its vital role in fostering health and well-being.
Annie creates a safe yet brave space where clients can explore their emotions and experiences freely. This ethos of compassion and support is deeply ingrained in her approach and shared by the practitioners at Roots and Rays, ensuring comprehensive and personalized care for every client.
Trained in various therapeutic modalities, Annie incorporates Expressive Art Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic therapy into her practice, enhanced by mindfulness and meditative techniques. She utilizes a variety of tools, including art-making as a means of expression and a creative space for problem-solving. By collaborating with participants, Annie helps them develop creative solutions and positive coping behaviors to address a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship dynamics, self-esteem issues, stress, PTSD symptoms, vicarious trauma, and negative coping behaviors.
Annie has extensive experience working with survivors of sexual violence, individuals affected by domestic violence, combat veterans, and others dealing with complex trauma. Her dedication to guiding individuals on their journeys toward healing and personal growth is evident in her compassionate approach, offering the tools and resources necessary for lasting transformation.
If you are highly motivated to engage in the deep work of healing, Annie invites you to collaborate towards nurturing the seeds of healing, allowing them to blossom into a life filled with hope, empowerment, and joy. If you are in need of support at this time, Annie looks forward to connecting with you on this meaningful journey.
Book a free consultation or reach out directly to Annie at annie@rootsandrayscounseling.com.
Corbly Brockman
MAATC, LPC, ATR-P, EMDR-Trained
(He / Him / His)
Staff Therapist and Practice Manager:
Corbly Brockman is a mental health worker and interdisciplinary artist dedicated to empowering individuals on their therapeutic journeys to foster a supportive and healing environment. Corbly approaches their work through their experience as a Queer identifying individual which continuously shapes their understanding of the complexities of human experience.
Rooted in trauma work, they have extensive experience supporting survivors of sexual violence and are passionate about collaborating with them on their healing journeys. Corbly creates a supportive environment that emphasizes the needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and provides gender care for TGNC+ individuals which centers a depathologizing approach.
Corbly's integrative methods include creative practices, therapeutic interventions, social justice frameworks, and arts-based activism. They embody, incorporate, and center acknowledgment, processing, empowerment, agency, voice, and a broad understanding of power structures. Promoting a sense of knowing and understanding that we all live in politicized intersectional bodies, Corbly emphasizes the importance of incorporating liberatory frameworks to raise the collective vibration and move toward an embodied sense of freedom by operating from a social justice and anti-oppressive lens. Corbly centers healing justice in their clinical work, believing deeply in the transformative power of creative exploration as a pathway to healing and liberation.
Utilizing the healing properties of creative expression, Corbly fosters an environment where individuals can explore their emotions and experiences through artistic practice. They view healing as a holistic journey through integrative methods, encouraging clients to reconnect with their inner selves and discover their resilience. Through a variety of methods tailored to the individual—including trauma-based interventions, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Work—Corbly facilitates deep healing and transformation in the wake of trauma and harm.
You matter, and your feelings are valid—you are not alone. If you are in need of support or have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Corbly looks forward to connecting with you and partnering on your healing journey.
Book a free consultation or reach out directly to Corbly at: Corbly@rootsandrayscounseling.com.
Danielle Swan
MAATC, LPC, ATR
(She / Her / Hers)
Staff Therapist
Danielle is a mental health worker and interdisciplinary artist committed to empowering individuals and fostering emotional wellbeing through a holistic and trauma-informed approach. Her practice is rooted in creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental space that encourages self-discovery, honors lived experience, and supports the development of meaningful, sustainable routines.
Trained in thought- and emotion-based modalities, she draws on evidence-informed practices that promote mindfulness, resilience, and positive transformation. She approaches individuals as whole beings—attuned to their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs—and offers support that is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. She is passionate about creating a space best suited for intentional shifts.
With extensive experience supporting people through life’s transitions, she specialize in working with emerging adults and adults navigating the complex terrain of school, career, identity, and personal growth. Whether you're facing uncertainty, burnout, or seeking greater purpose and clarity, she offers a steady, affirming presence to explore what matters most to you.
Danielle’s work is deeply informed by a liberated Black femme framework of care, recognizing the profound impact of intersectional identities on mental health and healing. She centers the voices and experiences of those often marginalized by systems of power, including race, gender, class, and sexuality. As an ally to the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Danielle is committed to depathologizing, affirming, and inclusive practice where all identities are seen, heard, and valued.
At the heart of Danielle’s work is a belief in the power of authentic connection, where healing becomes possible through presence, liberation, and the sacred act of being truly witnessed.
Book a free consultation or reach out directly to Danielle at: Danielle@rootsandrayscounseling.com
Colleen O’Sullivan, MSW, LSW (She / Her / Hers)
Staff Therapist
Colleen O’Sullivan (she/her) is a licensed social worker, trauma-informed psychotherapist, and community-centered healer. She holds a Master of Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work, and her practice is rooted in liberation psychology, anti-oppressive frameworks, and deep respect for lived experience.
Colleen offers a therapeutic space where safety, authenticity, and relational connection come first. Guided by warmth, curiosity, and collaboration, she invites clients into a healing process that honors the whole self—mind, body, and spirit. With a background in Cultural Anthropology, Colleen approaches therapy through a cultural-historical lens, helping clients recognize and name the ways systemic oppression shapes their lives and inner worlds.
Her work draws from Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), feminist theory, and radical acceptance. She incorporates body-based and creative modalities such as mindfulness, breathwork, ecotherapy, and expressive arts to support integrated, embodied healing.
Colleen has worked across the lifespan with individuals navigating complex trauma, sexual assault recovery, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She brings deep care to her work with LGBTQIA2S+ communities, survivors, and those living at the intersections of systemic harm. In addition to individual therapy, she is passionate about group work and believes in the transformative potential of healing in community.
At Roots and Rays, Colleen holds space for those seeking not only to process pain, but to reconnect with their power, purpose, and sense of aliveness. She welcomes all parts of you—and all the questions you may be holding.
“Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’”
- Angela Davis
Book a free consultation or reach out directly to Colleen at: Colleen@rootsandrayscounseling.com
“The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is -
it's to imagine what is possible”
— Bell Hooks