Ann Taylor, who came back to Patterson to raise her son after several years’ absence, has opened Therapeutic Designs, a new business in town that is focused on self-care.

Taylor is a licensed social worker and deals with relationships, anxiety, personality disorders and mental health.

She sees clients of all ages — men, women and children — in a relaxed living room setting with no desk and no computer. She said she tried to create a homey environment so her clients would feel comfortable.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than working with a client and seeing the changes as they progress,” she said.

She and her husband, Boyd Taylor, left Patterson in 2004 and moved to another city, when he received a job offer. Recently, the couple and 5-year-old son Robert returned to town.

“I love Patterson,” Taylor said. “I like a town that is a community — I really wanted to be in a practice that was part of a community.”

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1999 from University of California, Davis, and a master’s degree in social work in 2004 from California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock.

Retuning to Patterson was a plus for the family, she said.

“I’m really excited to see how Patterson is growing,” she said. “That’s why I came back — I wanted to raise my son in this environment and raise him in this community.”

She is available by appointment and can also be engaged to speak to community groups at 895-3329.

Local businesses that are new to town or have news to share can call Maddy Houk at 892-6187, ext. 22.