Anna Addington

How I work My way of working is informed by intersectional and inclusive anti-oppressive practices. I aim to be mindful of the power dynamics that exist between therapist and client and which can be exacerbated by additional social marginalisation such as race, class, age, disability, and so on, and I welcome open conversation on these topics. I encourage enquiries from folks from all walks of life, including non-monogamous or kinky lifestyles, sex workers, activists, and more. Individuals I trained in person-centred therapy, which is quite a gentle form of counselling that doesn’t rely heavily on particular techniques or exercises but instead aims to provide a supportive environment for people to work through their issues in their own way and at their own pace. Since then I have been influenced by other theories and modalities - particularly Internal Family Systems, trauma therapy, and attachment theory - and I also incorporate aspects of these into my practice. I work on the principle that you are the expert in your own life and my role is to facilitate you to find more inner resources and compassion for yourself. I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is very important and can be a place to explore and experiment with different ways of relating to people, so building a strong foundation of trust and safety between us is key. Relationships There are many struggles that people in relationships of all kinds can find themselves in, and these can cause a great deal of pain for those involved. My role as a relationship therapist is to help you slow down and step back from conflict, stress, stuckness, despair, or whatever else is present in your dynamic, and move towards greater understanding, empathy, and communication. My approach is similar to my individual work in that it is relatively gentle and based on humanistic principles, but I can be a little more structured and directive in relationship therapy. Regardless, I am always on the side of the relationship, rather than one person or the other. My experience working with LGBTQ+, non-monogamous, and kinky clients means that I have a very open mind about what constitutes a successful relationship - if it works for you then it works for me!