SANTOS PSYCHOTHERAPY
Hi, I'm Anjelena
Mum of three, two earthside daughters and a son who was stillborn. I've worked within the field of Psychology since 2008 and did specialist perinatal mental health training 8 years ago, just before I experienced my own birth trauma with my 1st born daughter.
All of a sudden I found myself on the other side of the therapy chair; believing my body has failed us both and ashamed of my postpartum rage. I felt incredibly alone, invisible and resentful, sick of being told I should move on and focus on my healthy baby.
It took me some time to deconstruct and readjust my understanding of my birth story and feel confident and empowered by the time I was ready to give birth again.
In my years of working to integrate my own past traumas and painful experiences; in which talking therapy, body and breath work & yoga practice have all played pivotal roles. These experiences are now reflected in my therapy practice.
In my sessions I help you go beyond understanding symptoms and learning coping tools. By integrating Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy with embodied and Polyvagal-informed approaches, the nervous system is able to shift out of survival states and into a place of rest, connection and safety.