About Ann

I have been a practicing Psychotherapist for over 30 years. I hold a PhD in Psychology with a Transpersonal concentration and am licensed as a Clinical Social Worker. I am a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) through IAEDP, a trained mindful Self-Compassion and Mindfulness teacher, a trained Polyvagal Theory therapist, as well as a Certified Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT) Practitioner.

My doctoral research explored the role of self-compassion in eating disorder recovery. My first book, Befriending Your Body: A Self-Compassionate Approach to Freeing Yourself from Disordered Eating, was released through Shambhala Publications in August, 2018 and my second publication, the Awakening Self-Compassion Card Deck was released through Shambhala Publications December, 2021.

As a Somatic Psychotherapist, my approach to therapy is unique and informed by multiple training I have done throughout my clinical career. My research, training and passion for self-compassion practice and the power it has to change up your nervous system and your relationship with yourself, others, and your life, frames all the work I do.

I practice through a trauma-informed, holistic, neuropsychotherapy lens, helping you to investigate and make sense of what you are experiencing in your nervous system, sensations you feel in your body, your emotions, and your thoughts and we learn together how to understand and hold all of this through self-compassion.

I am a Polyvagal informed therapist, mindfulness trained, and a researcher, teacher and trainer of self-compassion. I have developed a unique technique, Mindfulness-Based Embodiment ™ (MBE- please read more about this under Embodied Psychotherapy) used within talk therapy sessions, that allows you to become aware of patterns, both in the mind and body, that may no longer serve you in your life. Together we work on re-framing and re-programming these patterns along with helping you to develop new choices and ways to respond to life events differently than in the past.

My approach is not just about talking about your life but rather, helping you to step back into it in an embodied way to re-discover something new and different and to help empower you toward action and lasting growth and change.

Additional training:

Center for Mindful Body Awareness (MABT) https://www.cmbaware.org/

Certified Eating Disorder Therapist through IAEDP

Polyvagal Foundation Training

Certificate in Mindfulness through the Institute of Meditation and Psychotherapy (IMP) https://meditationandpsychotherapy.org/

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Trained Teacher through The Center For Mindful Self-Compassion https://centerformsc.org/

Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)- specializing in Restorative Yoga Therapeutics

E-RYT 500 Yoga Teacher.