Change happens through relationship.
I’m Anna, a counsellor and psychotherapist offering online sessions from Dharawal Country in the Illawarra.
Welcome. I’m glad you’ve found your way here.
You may have arrived here having already spent years trying to understand or “improve” yourself. You may have made sense of some of your history, and perhaps see some of the patterns that have shaped you.
And yet, in relationships and contexts that matter to you, old, familiar ways of responding can still take over - and you know they’re not working for you any longer.
You might recognise some of this in yourself:
᯽ Finding yourself holding back or shaping yourself around others - and losing touch with what you actually need
᯽ Feeling disconnected from yourself in your relationships, and unsure of how to return to feeling “you”.
᯽ Feeling caught in familiar relationship patterns that you know don’t work - and not knowing what to do, or how to do, anything differently.
᯽ Finding yourself always in relationships where your needs remain unmet (or feeling anxious about losing the relationship that matters to you)
᯽ Going quiet or withdrawing when what you really want is closeness
…I don’t see these patterns as “dysfunctions”, but as ways of relating that developed for important reasons.
They made sense in the story of your life - even though they may no longer feel helpful, or sustainable.
These patterns often persist beyond the times they were helpful in your story.
How we work together
In our sessions, we don’t try to “fix” or “analyse” you.
We stay with exactly what’s here, moving at a pace that feels right for you.
At times, we may talk about what’s happening in your life.
At other times, we may notice what’s happening in the moment - including within yourself, or between us.
As all this this unfolds, patterns often become clearer - and new ways of relating begin to emerge and strengthen.
Over time, the way you experience yourself in relationships may begin to evolve and change.
And never by forcing anything to be different. Changes may start to emerge from within you very naturally.
After some time working with me, you may notice that you:
᯽ Can stay connected to yourself, even when you’re with someone else
᯽ Recognise what you need, and can express that in ways that support you and your relationships
᯽ Find more awareness and choice in moments that once pulled you straight into old patterns
᯽ Find yourself drawn to different kinds of relationships that feel better to you - or relating differently within the ones you’re already in
᯽ Can stay more present in moments where you might once have withdrawn, gone quiet, or lashed out.
There is often more space.
More steadiness.
More choice in how you respond.
“It was the gentle way you hold space for absolutely anything.
I feel really heard - and beyond that, I feel really empowered and equipped.
I feel a lot better in my close relationships.
It’s been life-changing.”
- Counselling client
Working together
I work by staying with what’s unfolding, rather than trying to direct you toward a particular outcome.
You don’t need to perform, manage yourself, or become someone else here. Change develops through the experience of being met over time.
If you’re feeling drawn to this way of working, you’re welcome to book a first session.
You can use that time to get a sense of how it feels to work together, without any pressure to decide immediately.
If you’d prefer to ask a question first, you’re welcome to get in touch via the contact form.