Clinical Therapist
Child, Adolescent, Adult & Couples Therapy
Founder of ‘ The AND Discipline Method ’
Mum, Step-Mum
Clinical Therapist
Child, Adolescent, Adult & Couples Therapy
Founder of ‘ The AND Discipline Method ’
Mum, Step-Mum
Dr Anna is a mum and step-mum.
She works as a clinical therapist with children, adolescents, adults and couples, and has worked in a variety of environments. The majority of her time has been spent consulting in private practice and she is now situated in Central Auckland (Remuera).
Anna works with individuals on a variety of issues (please refer to the specific therapeutic pages for further details) and has published articles (nationally and internationally) relating to attachment, behaviour and discipline, and the parent/child relationship. She is also an ACC registered therapist and works with sensitive claims.
Anna has presented at seminars and workshops around the country, and is often asked to comment in the media on issues relating to couples and parenting. She is also a regular guest on The Hits radio show with Stace, Mike and Anika Moa.
Anna works in a collaborative and solutions-focussed way with her clients. She recognises the importance of the therapeutic relationship and provides a warm environment to her clients, to ensure that their goals for therapy are prioritised and treated with utmost respect, in the safest way possible.
Anna uses a range of therapeutic modalities, depending on a client’s needs. Each modality offers strengths, and Anna will discuss which approach may be the most useful, according to those needs and desired outcomes.
Anna is informed by, (but not limited to) therapeutic modalities such as:
Although Anna has a particular interest in the parent/child relationship, and attachment related concerns, she values the opportunity to work with clients across a range of issues. Anna views working with clients as a privilege. Should you wish to ask further questions or make an appointment, please get in touch through the contact page.
Anna was awarded her PhD from the University of Auckland. Her PhD thesis was centred around her research into the parent/child relationship, focussing on the discipline process. Her work also investigated the mainstream discipline methods widely used by parents today.
Anna found that many of the common discipline methods did not provide the parent with the necessary tools to achieve a productive discipline event outcome, that supported the wellbeing of the child. Without these tools, the outcome of a discipline event can increase the level of conflict in the family environment, and negatively impact the parent/child relationship.
As a result of her thesis findings and evidence-based research, Anna was able to create new parenting discipline methods, encouraging a new discipline paradigm, and lowering conflict levels between parent and child. These discipline methods support both the parent and child to work towards a productive outcome, and in doing so minimise conflict and help to maintain a secure and attached relationship. It is these new methods that are introduced in her latest book – “Listen to Me! – Taking the conflict out of child discipline” – published by Penguin Random House in June 2019, and soon to be published internationally.
Dr Anna’s new, innovative and popular ‘AND’ discipline method has been enthusiastically received. The ‘AND’ method is an efficient and productive method for parents to use, replacing the older, traditional behavioural (the ‘ask, tell and act’ approach) methods that can risk impacting on the child’s sense of self, as well as the parent/child relationship.
The ‘AND’ method is discussed in her latest book – “Listen to Me! – Taking the conflict out of child discipline”.
Anna is committed to ongoing training to ensure she has up-to-date evidence-based information informing her practice.
