My Approach

Hello, I am Anna. If something of what you read about me and how I work interests or speaks to you, I offer a free 15 minute phone call - an opportunity for you to ask exactly what you need to, in order to so see if I am the therapist you are looking for.

THE SETTING
I work in two locations – from my home practice in the centre of Nailsworth, and from a Practice in Stroud - in both I have a quiet room in which we would meet each week; I take care to make sure the setting provides our best opportunity to focus on our work together, somewhere you will endeavour to bring yourself, your struggles, your emotions, your needs, and of course your desires and goals for leading a healthy life.

WELCOMED AND NOT JUDGED
Whether you are clear or confused about your challenges right now, in any situation I offer a relationship in which I do not judge. I work hard to create safety so you can feel able to express yourself, in all your diversity. I am a skilled, responsive therapist with a feeling of freshness and vitality for my work, I am open and gentle, but also not afraid to challenge the obstacles to your fulfillment.

HOW I WORK
My training was in a number of strands that help us to understand ourselves better, as described below. Depending on your needs, I use the skills and training that are appropriate to you, and will always engage you on this, and also explore how it is that you like to work:

Psychodynamic – understanding and exploring how our past might influence our present behaviours, our limitations, as well as the wonderful ways that we engage with the world and others. You will have the opportunity to see more clearly, enabling you to consciously choose valuable ways that work well for you, or lay to rest the parts that no longer fit who you feel you are.

Humanistic – being presently aware of what is actually going on for you, on a body and mind level, and in our relationship, in the moment. For example, what goes on in the relationship between us that gives us clues to how you operate in the wider world? Or, can you safely express yourself here in ways that you might find difficult, overwhelming, or out of proportion ‘out there’, and why. Given a non-judgemental, unconditional safe space, I trust your natural inclination to find a healthy direction while I am alongside you.

Polyvagal Theory in therapy – over the past couple of years I have focused on anxiety and trauma; I understand that being stuck in the past or held at the mercy of the future can be limiting. We will learn to understand what goes on physiologically in our bodies to cope with how we are in the world, as a way to understand it's influence on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. These patterns can become excruciating and unhelpful. We can learn how to become more effective ‘operators’ of our nervous systems, starting to let go of being trapped in a fear response (which is often unconscious, ‘perceived’ fear, rather than real and present danger).

I am inclusive in how I run my practice, and in how I work - I welcome GSRD (Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity) and BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethnic) clients and do not discriminate on age.

About Me

For a more informed sense of me, I invite you to a free 15 minute phonecall. My interest in this work has a freshness and vitality, and I welcome your unique self and challenges. I have always been interested in how we, as humans, organize ourselves driven by instinctive needs, and how different conditions mean we adapt ourselves to the world differently – my early interest started on this broader level of country, culture and religion, leading me to gain a BAHons in Social Anthropology within the school of African and Asian Studies (Sussex University). I grew up in a number of west, east and southern African countries, as well as south Asia, but settled in England in my mid-20s having come here to study Social Anthropology. I have a continued interest in diversity, privilege and oppression.

I spent some years off this path, as a marketing manager, eventually returning and focusing on the more personal level of how we as humans develop within our family, family culture and experiences, leading me to working for Home Start Stroud District supporting families in crisis, with children under 5.

I trained for 4 years as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor at Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling, gaining a distinction in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling. I understand what it is like to be the client, and not the therapist - my training required me to have personal therapy during my 4 years of study.

I have been working as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor since 2017, in various settings (The Low Cost Counselling Service in Bath, as the Stroud counsellor for Carers Gloucestershire, at Cotswold Counselling, up to the present day where I work privately as well as for a counselling practice in Stroud).

I am proud to have gained membership as a fully accredited Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with the UKCP. This membership reflects rigorous training, ethical practice and a commitment to extensive and continued learning and training.

This business of 'being human' never loses its interest for me; I will be attentive to your humanity, uniqueness, and personal challenges.

I work with

• Individuals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Age-related Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Cultural Issues
• Depression
• Identity Problems
• Race Issues
• Relationships
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Trauma