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A LITTLE BACKGROUND

My Story

I am proud to share that I have a Master of Counselling from Monash University in Australia, a Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Children and Adolescents, and a BA (HONS) Primary Education with QTS from Northumbria University. Furthermore, I am also trained in ASIST Suicide prevention and Ausome trained in supporting neurodivergent individuals particularly those living with Autism and ADHD.

Having previously worked as a Whole School Counsellor and Child Protection Lead at two prestigious international schools, in Singapore and Japan, I have extensive experience of supporting staff, students and their families with mental health challenges.

I’m passionate about the Neurodiversity paradigm in particular, and I’m proud to offer an inclusive practice that places focus on being Neuro-affirming. That means that I visualise Neurodiversity as essential to our human ecosystem and I value different ways of thinking, feeling, communicating and behaving. It also means that I celebrate differences rather than moulding deficits to fit into a neurotypical world. I welcome people from all walks of life and I’m proud to be an LGBTQIA+ Aly.

  • IACP (Irish Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists)
  • NAPCP (National Association for Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists) 
  • SAC (Singapore Association of Counselors)
  • ISCA (International Schools Counselors Association)
  • Master of Counselling – Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Children and Adolescents
  • BA (HONS) Early Primary Education with QTS
  • Neuro-differences – (ADHD, Autism, OCD, Trauma, Tourette’s Syndrome)
  • Transitions – Global relocations and supporting the Grief and Loss cycle. 
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression
  • Gender and Sexual Identity

My Story

I’m fortunate to have worked in educational settings across the globe as a qualified teacher experienced in working with children, adolescents, young people &  adults (staff & parental community). Partnering with families and carers has been an integral strength throughout this journey. I fully understand the various developmental phases that a child goes through and the challenges that accompany this progression into adulthood. I have substantial experience of supporting staff, students and their families with mental health challenges. I endeavour to support adolescents and adults experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Trauma as you navigate life’s challenges.

Working internationally for 19 years, I have extensive experience of supporting individuals throughout their life span with significant relocations both as ‘expats’ and ‘repats’ (expats returning home!). As a ‘Third Culture Kid’ myself, I truly understand the challenges that come with global transitions and endeavour to support you in navigating the grief and loss cycle that encapsulates the transition process. In my previous role I supported families relocating with government embassies as they settled into their new homes and lives.

Why I became a Counsellor

  • Having worked in inner city schools in London, I quickly came to realise the importance of supporting students holistically and understanding that each person came with a story that we often knew very little about. Creating a safe space built upon trust, compassion, non-judgement and kindness enabled the development of strong, authentic and meaningful relationships which uncovered the discovery of various mental health challenges and the need for restorative support. 
  • As I continued to teach across the globe this same need continued to arise but from a more affluent audience which ignited curiosity in wellbeing from a different perspective. I became interested in safeguarding children, ensuring that their rights and needs, both physical and emotional, were being fulfilled. 
  • During my time in Singapore, I came to understand the many relationship challenges faced by expats across the globe within very diverse cultural work and social communities and without their family support systems close by to lean on. This inevitably increased my curiosity to support adults from all over the world with relationship challenges, self care and mental health. 
  • As Head of Lower Primary at an international school, I worked very closely with the Learning Support and Counselling departments and this ignited my desire to retrain as a counsellor in order to pursue my dream of developing awareness and acceptance of mental health illness for all, no matter what your story includes. 
  • Within my first few years as a Counsellor, I developed a hunger to support the identification of neuro-differences in younger individuals and I have since expanded this passion to support adults who are identified as Autistic, living with ADHD, OCD and/or Bipolar Disorder later on in life. Being able to support individuals through the assessment process and more importantly with aftercare is my biggest goal as a neuro-affirming therapist. I endeavour to be the voice of reason, knowledge and support for neurodivergent individuals by setting them up for success on their life long journey. 

Are you curious about living with a neuro type?
Get in touch with Annie to explore this further!