More About Anna Neale

As a naturalized Canadian from Kingston, Jamaica, I grew up with a love of learning about and understanding other cultures. Following my love of culture, I lived in Brazil for a year, soaking up the culture, and learning Portuguese.

I believe supporting one’s mental health is multifaceted, whether that means learning how to better manage stress, improving communication or conflict management skills, developing helpful self-care strategies, more effective coping skills, learning to work with difficult people, or navigating personal challenges. I believe we all have within us, the capacity for growth and change; I am here to support you through your journey.  Are you looking for support or struggling with any of the following?

• Anxiety, depression or other mood-related concerns
• Concerns related to relationships, sexuality or gender (LGBTQ2S+ inclusive)
• Professional issues
• Managing conflict; dealing with difficult people
• Self-esteem/self confidence (e.g., assertive communication)
• Academic struggles
• Loss (e.g. loved ones, relationship, employment, health, independence, death and non-death related loss)
• Trauma
• Experiences as a new Canadian
• Stress management
• Life transition (e.g. marriage, divorce, birth of a child, loss of a child/pregnancy, new living arrangements, new job, retirement, career change, injury, illness)
• Desire to make a change (e.g. quit smoking, drinking, lose weight, exercise more, reduce social media use)

I am a strength-based, person-centred practitioner with strong leanings towards systems-based, post-modern, and Rogerian approaches to psychotherapy that appreciate the many social locations and intersectionalities that people inhabit. I am a proponent of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, emotion-focused and attachment therapy, the Gottman approach, mindfulness interventions, trauma-focused approaches and solution-focused brief therapy.

My view of the counselling process, including goal setting, is a collaborative one between counsellor and client. I see my role as an educated ally, here to help my clients – who I consider experts in their own lives – make changes in their lives, with the help of evidence-based therapeutic practices and interventions, based on their goals and wishes. My approach is a non-judgemental, empathetic, and warm one that enables me to accompany my clients along their therapeutic journey to self-actualization, fulfillment, change or life improvement.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS:

When did you know you wanted to become a psychologist?

I have known I wanted to become a psychologist from a very young age – probably about 11 or 12 years old. As a child, and to this day, I am fascinated by human nature, what drives people to behave the way they do and what influences can encourage or hamper resilience. I also have a deep desire to help others. Psychology for me, has been a great way to do both.

What do you think the world needs more of?

I think the world needs more compassion, curiosity, humility and kindness for others.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (University of Alberta; 1995) Major: Psychology Minor: Sociology

Diploma (MacEwan University, 1999) Public Relations, Marketing & Advertising Graduated with Honours

Masters of Counselling Psychology (City University of Seattle; 2023) In Progress

Affiliations

Pending applications for student memberships with the College of Alberta Psychologists and the Psychologist Association of Alberta

Languages

• English

I specialize in:

Anxiety & Depression

• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Self-Esteem Issues

Couples

• Communication and Negotiation
• Couples Counselling

Grief & Loss Care

• Grief and Loss

Mental Health Disorders

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults

Other Areas

• Anger Management
• Stress Management

Thrive (Child & Youth)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children

Trauma Care

• Abuse
• Trauma

I have experience in:

• Adolescent & Teen Issues
• Aging Parents
• Dealing with Infidelity
• Death or Loss of a Pet
• Difficult People
• Divorce or Separation
• Emotional Abuse
• Emotional Regulation
• Family Issues
• LGBTQ2S+ Issues
• Life Transitions
• Loss of Employment
• Loss of a Loved One
• Self-Harming
• Sexuality and Intimacy Issues

My treatment approaches:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Adlerian Therapy
• Behavioural Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Existential Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Gottman Couples Therapy
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Person Centered Therapy
• Solution Focused Therapy