Hello. I’m Annie, a psychologist specialising in integrative therapy and an existentially-minded cognitive behavioural psychotherapist. But first and foremost, a fellow human being, thrown into the universe without having been asked and trying to make my way through this messy, amazing and strange thing we call life.
I have over 30 years
Hello. I’m Annie, a psychologist specialising in integrative therapy and an existentially-minded cognitive behavioural psychotherapist. But first and foremost, a fellow human being, thrown into the universe without having been asked and trying to make my way through this messy, amazing and strange thing we call life.
I have over 30 years of experience in the field of adult mental health and have worked in NHS, charity sector and criminal justice settings. My primary trainings are in cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment-based therapies, but I have also completed training in compassion-focused, psychoanalytic, Gestalt, existential, transactional analysis and person-centred counselling approaches, as well as training in working with long-term health conditions.
I have worked in primary, secondary and tertiary mental health settings, so I have experience of dealing with conditions of all varieties of severity and complexity.
I have various degrees and diplomas under my belt, including a doctorate in psychology and postgraduate qualifications in psychotherapy, forensic psychology and occupational psychology.
I am registered/accredited with the British Psychological Society, the Health and Care Professions Council, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
All that said, I think the most important element in psychotherapy is the relationship between client and therapist. To that end, I work to provide a warm and safe supportive space in which you can explore the issues of concern to you, understand them better and work out how to move forward when you are ready to do so.
I am passionate about helping people discover their own sense of purpose, working out how to live an authentic, full, meaningful life, as well as tackling the factors which are contributing to the persistence of overwhelming distress.
In terms of problems which may be causing you distress, I am experienced in working with a wide range of i
I am passionate about helping people discover their own sense of purpose, working out how to live an authentic, full, meaningful life, as well as tackling the factors which are contributing to the persistence of overwhelming distress.
In terms of problems which may be causing you distress, I am experienced in working with a wide range of issues, including:
Anxiety
Bereavement
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Depression
Emotional regulation problems
Existential issues
Forensic issues
Health anxiety
Interpersonal problems
Intrusive thoughts
Long term health conditions
Low self esteem
Menopause
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Occupational stress
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Problematic sexual behaviour
Social anxiety
In addition to addressing any specific debilitating symptoms you may be experiencing, I aim to facilitate wider curiosity in our ways of being in the world. This involves looking at the barriers we may experience in finding the life we want for ourselves in the longer term, including the ones we create within ourselves, as well as the challenges we may face entirely not of our own making. These may include others’ behaviour towards us and features of the society and era in which we find ourselves. I believe it is important to recognise that our challenges do not happen in isolation but rather exist in a wider context. How we choose to engage with and respond to these challenges can be the key to moving forward.
My approach involves us working together, rather than you being a passive recipient of my thoughts, reflections, knowledge and observations. While I have knowledge of a wide range of mental health disorders and am trained in evidence-based treatments for these, I do not have a strong affinity with medical models of most disorders, with a
My approach involves us working together, rather than you being a passive recipient of my thoughts, reflections, knowledge and observations. While I have knowledge of a wide range of mental health disorders and am trained in evidence-based treatments for these, I do not have a strong affinity with medical models of most disorders, with a few exceptions (for example, those stemming from hormonal and chemical imbalances, or those linked to neurological damage).
Medical or not, it is not the listed ‘symptoms’ per se of these problems that make them disorders but rather the impact they have on our functioning which is the difference between receiving or not receiving a mental disorder diagnosis. When the problems are looked at in their own right and in the context of the demands of our environments we can see them as understandable problems in living. That is not to deny the value that many individuals may derive from formal diagnosis and associated medications often prescribed for them in accordance with NICE guidelines. However, my approach is that therapy is a collaboration and a relationship between two individuals with one (the therapist) working with the other in the service of the other’s objectives that they bring to the therapy for help with, rather than something done to the client.
At the start of our work together I will spend time gaining an understanding of what has brought you to therapy and how you would like things to be different. I will share my thoughts on what approaches I may be able to offer you and seek your views on which may be a good match for how you would like us to work together. If I do not think I am a suitable match for you I will tell you so and offer alternative suggestions.
Initial 30-minute consultations are free. Thereafter, I offer three types of therapy sessions.
Regular therapy sessions - These are 60-minute appointments and cost £85 each. Sessions are weekly to begin with but after an initial period of weekly sessions you may wish to reduce to fortnightly before our work together concludes. I am current
Initial 30-minute consultations are free. Thereafter, I offer three types of therapy sessions.
Regular therapy sessions - These are 60-minute appointments and cost £85 each. Sessions are weekly to begin with but after an initial period of weekly sessions you may wish to reduce to fortnightly before our work together concludes. I am currently registered as a provider with Allianz, Aviva, Vitality Health and WPA for these sessions.
Intensive MOT session - These are 90- minute appointments and cost £145.
They are designed to be self-contained sessions. They focus on deriving a bespoke formulation of your primary issues, including psychoeducation and coping strategies, cumulating in a wellbeing plan for you to action going forward. You may prefer to use this as a one-off session to springboard your own wellbeing maintenance or as an initial session that you can follow up with regular or ad hoc shorter sessions in the future as and when works for you. They are suitable for individuals who have never experienced therapy before or whose last therapy journey was several years ago and for whom multi-session therapy is not a good fit at present.
Wellbeing refresher session - These are 40- minute appointments and cost £70 each.
These sessions are suitable for individuals who have attended previous therapy in the last couple of years, either with me or another therapist, for the same issues. You will benefit from this type of session if you have identified some relevant factors instrumental in triggering difficulties but are finding your coping strategies feel past their use-by date and would benefit from updating and/or expanding. They are shorter than regular ongoing therapy sessions and booked on an ad hoc basis. They are suitable for individuals who are not wishing or able to commit to regular sessions. They are not suitable for individuals who have yet to engage in any therapy to develop a basic formulation or individuals who previously attended therapy for a completely different issue.
I offer appointments in person, at the Brixton Practice, 34-44 Tunstall Road, Brixton, London SW9 8DA, at Rooms for Therapists, 8 Lion Yard, Clapham North, London SW4 7NQ, or online via Zoom.