Case Study
Lucy, Camden
I started seeing Ann at the beginning of my divorce. I went to see her initially as she had been highly recommended to me as a child psychologist by several friends who had seen her. I was concerned to minimise the impact of his parents' separation on my son and I wanted to make sure that I behaved in a way which supported him as much as possible and that I didn't do anything to damage him - however inadvertently.
Ann was wonderful from the start and always knew the best way to handle the problems I brought to her concerning my son, whether these were "what do I say when he asks me again if I can go with him to Daddy's for a sleepover?" or "how do I best help him with the anxiety of the separation?", Ann had an instinctive grasp of the psychology of the situation - even when I didn't understand it myself, and there have been several occasions when I've admitted that something she had said was right even when I'd sworn at the time it wasn't!
My responses to difficult situations with family and friends, even my ex-husband, changed dramatically. I became my own person, confident in my own decisions and instincts, to the extent that several friends commented on the difference in me.As I got to know Ann, it became clear to me that she was benefiting me in ways I hadn't predicted. She soon became my own therapist and acted as a wise, calm and practical support throughout the worst moments of the divorce. As I grew stronger in dealing with those issues, Ann and I began to explore deeper issues relating to my past and self-esteem, which I had realised with time were essential to me being able to move on from my marriage and to avoid making the same mistakes in future relationships. She is utterly kind and gentle in her approach, but she will also "tell it how it is".
Often, Ann's words are the ones which ring in my ears long after our sessions and which make the difference in my everyday life. After Ann and I spent a summer exploring deeper issues from my past I felt a complete shift in my thinking. I felt more self-confident and self-assured than I had ever before and my responses to difficult situations with family and friends, even my ex-husband, changed dramatically. I became my own person, confident in my own decisions and instincts, to the extent that several friends commented on the difference in me. It would be wrong to say that I don't have difficult days still but I know that Ann is always there to put things in perspective and work with me. I really can't recommend her highly enough. Even after one session, you will come out feeling lighter and brighter.
