About Ann-Marie

I’m Ann-Marie, an accredited psychotherapist and health coach with over 15 years experience.

I believe in the power of talking therapy for healing, but also that sometimes you need to start with the body and work your way inward to the mind for real whole-person health.

I have a unique skill set that allows me to provide:

  • Movement therapy
  • Holistic psychotherapy
  • Breathwork coaching
  • Nutrition coaching

I run a long-standing private practice online & in Reading, UK and am co-founder & co-director of Mind Garden Therapy Ltd, Reading’s largest centre for talk therapy, established in 2010.

My breathwork training is through expert breath / stress resilience coaches in the USA at Shift and I am certified as a breathing instructor by Oxygen Advantage. Additionally I have been trained in movement therapy and am completing further professional courses in yoga psychology.

My professional supervision is with a senior analytical psychologist in the Jungian tradition and I consult professionally with fellow breath coaches to ensure the best possible client care and outcomes.

I currently offer private sessions and classes at Mind Garden in Reading, online, and at the Orchard Life Centre in Midgham, West Berkshire. I have a busy family life including lots of animals!

I’ve been a therapist for a long time (since 2002!). Over the last 8 years I’ve had a growing interest in physical fitness and its connection to mental health. It was only once I landed on the most underestimated and overlooked aspect of our health (breath) and its ties to our autonomic nervous system (ANS), that I found a way to take the mind-body link into my private practice. It’s quickly taken over the whole of my work as I can now offer clients a unique approach to physical & emotional health that puts the ANS at the centre of our work together, mirroring its central place in our bodies and our wellbeing.

The ANS is the home of our stress response and our breath function. When the ANS is balanced, your health is elevated and your mind is resilient. This understanding has taken my own self care to a new level and I now work to help my clients experience the same.

Connecting body & mind for deep health

15 years’ clinical
experience

Accredited
Psychotherapist since
2009

Multiple
certifications

My training & experience includes:

  • Bachelor of Arts & Psychology & Religious Studies, USA
    1998
  • Master of Arts, Pastoral Counselling, USA
    2000
  • 2003 Working with families & adults in community-based mental health services, USA
    2001-2003
  • Certificate in MultiSystemic Family Therapy
    2002
  • Began private practice in Reading, UK
    Since 2007
  • Accreditation with British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
    Since 2009
  • Co-founded Mind Garden Therapy Ltd, Reading’s primary centre for private psychotherapy
    2010
  • Advanced Certificate in Emotion Focused Therapy
    2012
  • Competed internationally as a masters CrossFit athlete – The Netherlands & Athens, Greece
    2018-2019
  • Precision Nutrition Certificate in Exercise Nutrition
    2019
  • Certified by the UK Health Coach Association
    Since 2020
  • Trained in resilience coaching & breath training by Shift, USA
    2020 – 2022
  • Certified Functional Breathing Instructor with Oxygen Advantage, UK
    2022
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer in functional fitness
    2022
  • Certified Yoga Nidra Instructor
    2023

What’s my Why?

After my own extensive training in autonomic health and breath training with the amazing team at Shift (www.shiftadapt.com) and through Oxygen Advantage, I can easily say that breathwork has and continues to change my life for the better. It has led me to personal insight & self-awareness that has previously been trapped in my physiology. It has supported me in moving through challenging emotions, and given me interventions to stop repeating patterns that no longer served me. I feel more objective and present, and less reactive.

My aim is to teach the skill of breath to others so they can also experience increased quality of life & relationships both now and in the future. Our mind/body system is the most powerful tool we have – we just need to listen to it.

Tap into your body’s wisdom

Start your movement today. If you are motivated for change and want a fresh approach to your wellbeing, let’s see if we can work together. The fit between client & coach is important – so your introductory phone or video call is free of charge!

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