Clinical Therapist

Adolescent, Adult, Couples, & Family Therapy
Founder of ‘ The AND Discipline Method ’
Mum, Step-Mum
Author – Published Nationally & Internationally

Dr Anna Headshot

About Dr Anna

Anna is an experienced Clinical Therapist, mum, and step-mum. Anna works with adolescents, adults, couples, families and the parents of younger children (13 and younger). 

Anna has had extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families on a variety of concerns (please see below and refer to the specific age-related therapeutic pages for further details). She has published (nationally and internationally) books and articles relating to attachment, behaviour and discipline, and the parent/child relationship.

Anna is an ACC registered sensitive claim therapist.

The majority of her clinical experience has been gained through consulting in private practice. For in-person sessions, Anna is situated in Central Auckland (Remuera). She also conducts sessions online. Please see the contact page for details.  

Anna works with individuals, families, and couples on issues such as (but not limited to):

  • Attachment issues
  • Familial dysfunction
  • Stress and burn-out
  • Anxiety / Depression / Post-natal depression
  • Self-harm
  • Suicide ideation
  • Maladaptive responses and behavioural issues
  • Relationship issues
  • Blended family issues
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • Complex trauma
  • Self-destructive behaviours
  • Phobias
  • Parenting issues
  • Technology/screen addiction for children, adolescents, and young adults
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Low-self-worth/identity issues
  • ACC sensitive claims

Anna has presented at seminars and workshops around the country and receives requests to comment in the media on topics relating to attachment, parenting, relationships, and other therapy-related topics. She was a regular guest on The Hits Radio Show discussing issues experienced by the listener.

Philosophy and Approach

Dr Anna works in a collaborative, respectful, and a solutions-focused process with her clients. Please refer to ‘About Dr Anna’ for details relating to the types of issues she works with clients on. Anna recognises the importance of the therapeutic relationship and endeavours to provide a warm environment for clients, to ensure that their goals for therapy are prioritised and worked with in the safest way possible.

Anna uses a range of therapeutic modalities, depending on the client’s needs. 

Anna is informed by and trained in (but not limited to) the following therapeutic modalities:

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy) 
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment Theory
  • Emotionally Focussed Therapy (EFT)
  • Trained and Certified in Tech Addiction & Digital Health in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults
  • Solutions-Focussed Therapy
  • Schema Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Person-Centred Therapy
  • Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Although Anna works with a variety of issues with clients of different ages, Anna has studied, completed research, and specialises in the parent/child relationship and attachment-related issues. Anna values the opportunity to work with clients across a range of issues. Should you wish to ask further questions or make an appointment, please get in touch through the contact page.

The Parent / Child relationship and the focus of Dr Anna’s PhD

Dr Anna was awarded her PhD from the University of Auckland. Her thesis focused on attachment, discipline and the parent/child relationship and how to achieve more productive outcomes during the discipline process. Her work also explored the effectiveness of the current mainstream discipline methods commonly used today in many households. 

Anna found that many of the common discipline methods used did not provide parents with effective tools to assist parents and support the parent/child relationship.  

As a result of her research findings, Anna was able to create a new parenting discipline method, which encourages a new discipline paradigm and lowers conflict levels between parent and child. This discipline method supports both parent and child to work towards a more attuned discipline outcome and helps maintain a securely attached relationship.

The AND discipline method is provided in her book – “Listen to Me! – Taking the conflict out of child discipline” – published nationally by Penguin Random House in June 2019, and an international publishing house in Poland.

Anna has just completed a new evidence-based parenting book called “Pocketbook of Parenting“. This cartoon and evidence-based book provides parents with the foundational information for parenting in a quick and easy reading format. 

The ‘AND’ method

Dr Anna’s effective and popular ‘AND’ discipline method has been enthusiastically received by many parents. The ‘AND’ method is a researched, practical, and easy-to-use parenting method. It replaces the more traditional, older authoritarian discipline approaches which tend to focus on behaviours only. 

The ‘AND’ method is discussed in her book (2019) – “Listen to Me! – Taking the conflict out of child discipline” and her latest book “Pocketbook of Parenting.”

Professional Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Auckland
  • Master of Counselling, Massey University
  • Post Graduate study – Attachment Theory
  • Bachelor of Arts, Victoria University of Wellington
  • Trained and Certified (level 1) in Tech Addiction & Digital Health in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults
  • ACC registered (sensitive claims)

Anna is committed to ongoing training to ensure she has up-to-date evidence-based information informing her practice.

Contact Dr Anna to arrange a consultation.