Anita Salek Aasen LCSW
AUTHOR

Anita Salek Aasen LCSW

Health & Wellness
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Born and raised in New York City, Anita Salek Aasen grew up in a working-class family that emphasized the values of hard work, community, and emotional resilience. From an early age, she understood that life’s challenges, when met ; could lead to personal growth. Grief is no stranger to Anita. Two weeks after her 20th birthday, she lost her mother to lung cancer. This profound loss shaped her life and propelled her toward a lifelong commitment to helping others. It ignited her passion for social work, particularly focusing on grief, loss, and resilience. Anita earned her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University and became a licensed clinical social worker in 1986. Over the years, she worked with at-risk children, adults with mental disabilities, and in state service as a substance abuse counselor in a prison, later transitioning to a mental health clinic. Throughout her career, Anita helped countless individuals cope with trauma, loss, and mental health challenges. Her work not only provided healing for others but also deepened her own understanding of resilience and emotional strength. In 2017, Anita faced another profound loss when she lost her first cousin, Lou, to bladder cancer. Lou had been not only her cousin and best friend but ultimately the only brother she had ever known. His passing profoundly impacted Anita’s emotional and professional life. This further solidified her commitment to supporting others through grief and personal hardship. In 2023, Anita turned to writing as a way to process and share her own experiences of grief. She began writing about the loss of her brother, Lou, and the emotional journey that followed. What began as personal reflection eventually became her first published work, From Grief to Grace: A Therapist’s Personal Journey of Healing After Loss. In this deeply personal account, Anita offers readers a raw, compassionate look at the transformative journey of grief, using her own story as a beacon of hope for those navigating similar losses. After retiring from state service in 2024 Anita continued her work through her private practice, reaching clients across the globe via online platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace. Her ability to touch lives across the world has allowed her to extend the healing and support she has offered locally to individuals facing emotional struggles everywhere. Currently, Anita is working on her second book, which will also focus on grief, exploring new perspectives for those navigating the complex and often overwhelming process of healing after loss. Anita has been happily married to her husband, Victor, for over 40 years, and together, they raised three daughters, all of whom share in her commitment to empathy, support, and growth. Outside of her professional life, Anita finds joy in the companionship of her beloved pets or the solace she finds in the music of The Beatles. A lifelong Star Trek enthusiast, she is inspired by the shows messages of hope and healing, which mirror her own journey. Anita Salek Aasen’s journey from grief to grace is a testament to the power of resilience and emotional growth. Through her work as a therapist, writer, mother, and wife, she has become a beacon of hope for others navigating life's challenges. Her story is a reminder that healing is a process—one that is possible with the right support, self-reflection, and courage to embrace one’s full emotional journey.
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