Hi, my name is Anna. I’m a fully qualified counsellor and Accredited Registrant with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I offer face-to-face therapy in Southampton and online counselling across the UK, in both English and Polish. My training has given me a foundation in three therapeutic approaches: Person-Centred, Gestalt and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I integrate these approaches depending on what feels most helpful for the individual person I am working with. My practice is informed by current psychological research and professional training, while I also remain curious about different perspectives on human experience, self-awareness and personal growth. I believe therapy should never be a one-size-fits-all process. We are all shaped by different experiences, relationships, cultures and ways of understanding the world. I therefore work collaboratively and in a client-led way, drawing on different therapeutic tools and perspectives according to your individual needs. Even when we feel lost, overwhelmed or disconnected from ourselves, I believe there is often a part of us that knows what is important and meaningful. My role is not to tell you what you should do, but to walk alongside you while you explore what feels right for you.
About me
A little more about me
I was born and raised in the Polish countryside, where growing up close to nature gave me a deep appreciation for simplicity, patience and staying grounded.
Growing up on farmland also taught me something that I carry into my work today: some things cannot be rushed. You prepare the ground, you do the work, you give things time and eventually, you harvest. I believe therapy can be much the same. Meaningful change sometimes needs time, patience and the right conditions to develop.
In my twenties, I made the decision to move abroad. I spent many years living in Ireland before moving to England. Living in different countries, cultures and languages has broadened my perspective and taught me a great deal about change, adaptation, belonging and the sense of loss that can sometimes accompany starting a new chapter.
I understand that significant life changes can bring many different emotions. Alongside the excitement of something new, there can also be grief for what has been left behind, uncertainty about who we are becoming, and the challenge of finding a sense of belonging again.
In 2018, I returned to academic education and began my journey towards becoming a counsellor. Since then, I have continued to develop both professionally and personally, completing training in Person-Centred Counselling, Gestalt Counselling and CBT.
My experience
Much of my counselling experience has been with people who have experienced trauma, domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as those navigating bereavement, grief, loss and significant life transitions.
I also work with people experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, low self-esteem, difficult emotions and feeling stuck or disconnected from themselves.
My approach is trauma-informed, relational and attentive to the whole person. I am interested not only in what is happening in your thoughts, but also in your emotions, bodily experience, relationships and the ways you may have learned to cope.
I have also co-facilitated Emotional Coping Skills psychoeducational groups, supporting people to develop greater awareness of their emotions and practical ways of managing difficult experiences.
I use psychoeducation in my work where appropriate because I believe knowledge can be empowering. Understanding why we think, feel and respond in certain ways can give us greater awareness and, with that awareness, more choice.
I also work in both English and Polish. Having lived between different countries and cultures myself, I understand how important it can sometimes be to express yourself in the language that feels most natural to you.
Therapy with me
Therapy with me is a space to pause, reflect and become more aware of yourself.
I don't believe meaningful change can always be rushed. We live in a world that constantly encourages us to move faster, achieve more and keep going. Therapy can offer something different - a place where you can slow down, listen to yourself and give attention to what may have been asking to be heard.
We may explore your thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, relationships and patterns of behaviour, but we will always work at a pace that respects your individual process.
I will walk alongside you, rather than tell you where you should go.