Anna-Maria Anderson

Verified Professional task_alt Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

she/her
FdA MBACP
Accepting new clients
Accepting new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Salisbury SP2 & Portsmouth PO1
Accepting new clients
Accepting new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I have a varied career history prior to becoming a counsellor, from warehouse work to PA within an International company and an equestrian career, before I found myself becoming a single parent and made the decision to retrain as a counsellor. I find there is a part of my personality which seems to enable people from all walks of life and backgrounds to feel comfortable and connected when working with me.

My modality is Transactional Analysis (TA), developed by Eric Berne. TA has been written to be understood by all, and I have received a lot of positive feedback from clients who tell me that the learning of TA concepts has really helped them to understand themselves and others better. I may also use techniques from other modalities such as CBT, psychoeducation, Gestalt, and through creativity. My approach is tailored to each individual client based on their preferences and way of processing. 

If you have found yourself in a difficult place and need some support to get to somewhere better then I hope you feel able to get in touch. Having a safe space away from the pressures of day-to-day life, to talk without judgement and concentrate fully on yourself, can be a profound experience. Often life can lead us to feel overwhelmed, anxious or lost. You might be questioning whether a relationship is right and need some professional support to enable you to explore and make better sense of your thoughts and feelings. Conflict could be becoming the main form of interaction within a relationship and you may benefit from better understanding the dynamics and working on facilitating much needed change. 

Affairs do happen, relationships end, and families split up. These events can leave us with grief, unanswered questions and a lack of hope and clarity around what the future may hold. I can provide support and a place to talk freely and work through emotions such as pain, guilt, confusion and hopelessness, and overwhelm.

Anxiety is a common form of suffering I am asked to help with on a regular basis. I work using a range of techniques to help reduce symptoms and to help increase a sense of calm. Once someone is experiencing greater stability and ability to function, it is often possible to then look at where the anxiety is coming from and work at a deeper level to change internal processes.

Low self-esteem can impact our happiness and the way we perceive our reality. It can prevent us from fulfilling our potential and reaching our life goals. I work with clients to explore the sometimes deeply rooted causes of a negative belief system. Counselling can facilitate work towards a healthier perception of self and provide support with behavioural changes to match.

Education and work stress can be another valid reason to seek support. Together we can look at ways to help manage and reduce stress, explore available resources and manage situations as they arise.

I offer support to those struggling with gambling and substance misuse and their families. Addiction can lead to pain, feelings of shame, confusion and disbelief. I can offer acceptance, empathy and a space to talk freely.

I frequently work with clients with diagnosed and self-diagnosed ADHD.

Initially, I will ask you to provide me with some insight of what has led you to seek counselling. If you can provide some information on your initial email, this would be helpful. I do advise all clients who contact me that there are unfortunately a couple of areas I have chosen not to work with, as I feel these require specialist training. These are adoption and food limiting eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a fully qualified and insured counsellor, holding a Foundation Degree (Distinction) in Transactional Analysis in Humanistic Counselling (Level 5). 

I hold a Level 4 qualification in Suicide Prevention, a Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling, and a TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism. I also hold Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Counselling Skills and Transactional Analysis 101 and regularly undertake CPD in many different areas.

I have in the past provided counselling through an organisation to support victims of sexual and domestic abuse and can provide a safe way of working with underlying trauma. I have worked for another organisation providing support to problem gamblers and affected others and have a first-hand experience and understanding of the impact of addiction, along with knowledge in the neurobiology of substance misuse, which puts me in a good position to support clients who are struggling in this area, or their relatives. 

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£45.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Students

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I work Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Mondays and Wednesdays until mid-afternoon.

I currently have availability to take on clients.

I am unable to hold evening/weekend sessions. 

Further information

Initially, I will ask you to provide me with some insight of what has led you to seek counselling. If you can provide some information on your initial email, this would be helpful. It may also be helpful to have a chat via Zoom.

During our first session, I will complete an assessment with you. This will help me to get to know you better and provide me with important information to aid our work together. 

I see clients Monday to Thursday and currently have limited availability.

From September 2023 I will be available Wednesday mornings to see clients.

Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2

Portsmouth City Centre, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2AL

Type of session

Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check info

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Online platforms

Zoom

Social

Anna-Maria Anderson
Anna-Maria Anderson