Hello, My name is Anna
Before training as an Art Psychotherapist, I studied sculpture. I then went off to teach English abroad before returning to become a Community Artist. I then discovered Art Psychotherapy and have loved every minute of it since qualifying in 2004.
I am an experienced HCPC Registered Art Psychotherapist, EMDR and Mindfulness Practitioner with over 21 years of experience supporting children, young people, adults, parents and families across a range of therapeutic settings including adoption services, family support, perinatal services, education, the voluntary sector and private practice.
I offer an intergrative, trauma informed approach drawing upon my psychodynamic.......My work is informed by an undertsanding of attachment, early relationships, trauma nd the impact of life experiences on emotional and psychological well-being.
Areas of Therapeutic Experience
-
Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
-
Attachment and relationship difficulties
-
Anxiety, stress and emotional overwhelm
-
Depression and low mood
-
Bereavement, grief and loss
-
Self-esteem and identity
-
Emotional regulation and recurring patterns of behaviour
-
Parenting and family relationships
-
Adoption, and fostering and experiences of early separation
-
significant life transitions
When I am not working, I love walking with my gorgeous labradoodle Edith-who accompanies me to sessions (upon agreement). I also love painting and playing with clay.
Books & Publications
All the Colours of Me is a series of books that I have written. It is designed to help children explore and understand their emotions in a safe, gentle and creative way.
Written for children aged five and above, each book explores key emotions that are part of childhood, encouraging emotional awareness and expression through engaging, creative activities.
Each book also includes a practical guide for adults, a glossary of key terms and additional resources to help parents, carers and professionals support children's emotional wellbeing.
Picturing My Worry
Picturing My Worry encourages children to become 'worry artists', using their amazing minds to get to know and show their worries. Children are asked to think about the colours, textures and shapes that express the look and feel of worry to them. Children consider and recognise how they act when they're worried and how they can 'speak' about worry through art if finding words is hard. At the end of the book, children have a set of self-made resources to use again and again when they need a reminder of their creative coping skills.
Picturing My Sadness
Picturing My Sadness encourages children to become 'sadness artists', using their amazing minds to get to know and show their sadness. Children are asked to think about the colours, textures and shapes that express the look and feel of sadness to them. Children consider and recognise how they act when they're sad and how they can 'speak' about sadness through art if finding words is hard, including learning the practice of mandalas. At the end of the book, children have a set of self-made resources to use again and again when they need a reminder of their creative coping skills.
Picturing My Anger
Picturing My Anger encourages children to become 'anger artists', using their amazing minds to get to know and show their anger. Children are asked to think about the colours, textures and shapes that express the look and feel of anger to them. Children consider and recognise how they act when they're angry and how they can 'speak' about anger through art if finding words is hard. At the end of the book, children have a set of self-made resources to use again and again when they need a reminder of their creative coping skills.
Picturing My Happiness
Picturing My Happiness encourages children to become 'happiness artists', using their amazing minds to get to know and show their happiness. Children are asked to think about the colours, textures and shapes that express the look and feel of happiness to them. Children consider and recognise how they act when they're happy and how they can 'speak' about happiness through their art. At the end of the book, children have a set of self-made resources to use again and again when they need a reminder of their creative coping skills.
Picturing My Gratitude
Picturing My Gratitude encourages children to become 'gratitude artists', using their amazing minds to get to know and show their gratitude. Children are asked to think about the colours, textures and shapes that express the look and feel of gratitude to them. Children consider and recognise how they act when they're grateful and how they can 'speak' about gratitude through their art. At the end of the book, children have a set of self-made resources to use again and again when they need a reminder of their creative coping skills.
Picturing My Resilience
Picturing My Resilience encourages children to become 'resilience artists', using their amazing minds to get to know and grow their resilience. Children are asked to think about the colours, textures and shapes that express the look and feel of resilience to them. Children consider and recognise how they've been resilient in the past and how they can 'speak' about resilience through their art. At the end of the book, children have a set of self-made resources to use again and again when they need a reminder of their creative coping skills.
