Ana Cooper

I am a fully qualified BACP Accredited Integrative Psychotherapist, with over 20 years' experience, who worked in frontline NHS services (Hospitals and GP Surgeries) for the majority of my career, and now works exclusively in private practice. The three issues I am most proficient in treating are anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. (I count myself in the number of people I have helped out of those dark places.)

I chose an Integrative training because I am curious and open-minded about what works, and because research has proven that no one theory is in fact more effective than others. The effectiveness of therapy depends on the quality of the therapeutic relationship, and, I would argue, the experience of the Therapist.

I meet people from very different backgrounds, with contrasting belief systems, at various life stages, and with idiosyncratic therapy goals.  So, for me, it is imperative to have a versatile tool kit, because, one size does not fit all.  For some people an authentic and collaborative approach works best.  For others, they feel lost without a prescriptive and guided approach.

That is why I chose to be Integrative.  I love the fact I can constantly add to my "toolkit" of interventions, by reading up on the latest research and techniques developing in my field.  Everyone is different, and what can unlock one person's defenses seamlessly, is obviously not necessarily going to work for everyone else.  The key is to build trust, and to be sensitive to one's Client's personal characteristics.  I believe in openness, integrity, authenticity, and a tailored bespoke journey, in terms of timing and use of intervention methods.

If you come to me - whether remotely or in person - you will be heard and taken seriously.

You will never be judged and no assumptions will ever be made about you. Everything you say will be treated with respect and held in absolute confidence.

Together, we will re-ignite the inner power you somehow lost along your way, and we will harness it to face the battle ahead. You will rediscover or learn how to become more robust and adaptive.  And hopefully you will emerge as the hero or heroine of your life. Not the wounded victim you felt when we first met.

Please contact me with any questions, I look forward to hearing from you.

My areas of expertise are anxiety, depression, and relationship problems.

Conscious and unconscious difficulties in our relationship with our primary care-givers is where it all starts.  This, along with our unique personality traits, adverse childhood experiences, birth order, genetics, and hormones, deeply affects how we adapt to relate to significant others, but also, most importantly, to our own inner Self.  In my view, relationship problems are what underlie all other difficulties such as identity, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addiction, self-harm, suicidal ideation etc.

These are all consequences of early relationship problems.

I have dedicated four of my slots to students, keyworkers, and people on low income, at a highly reduced rate, but obviously these times tend to be fully booked.  Nevertheless, it is still worth applying, as I try and keep the turnover going in order not to deny access to new people.

FYI : I work a full 60min hour (versus the usual 50min)