Anne Hartman
SYSTEMIC COUPLES PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Approach and background
I’m a Systemic and Family Psychotherapist specialising in couples therapy. I work with couples at all stages of their relationships experiencing a wide range of challenges. You might be in the early stages of a happy relationship and just want to improve communication. Or, you might be in a long-term relationship, feel you are in continual conflict and worry you are close to separation.
With a clinical background in mental health, I can also support couples where complex challenges such as trauma, anxiety, depression, pornography addiction or eating disorders are affecting their relationship.
My method is integrative, drawing on evidence-based systemic, cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic approaches. Systemic psychotherapy helps couples understand the patterns in their relationship and how these influence the way you communicate and respond to one another. Rather than focusing on one person as the problem, we look at what is happening between you and what may be keeping you stuck. We may want to think about your experiences growing up, since when couples feel trapped in a repetitive cycle, it is often because an emotional vulnerability is being triggered. While you develop insight into your patterns and the role the past might be playing, I will also encourage you to take action straight away, to help you break the pattern by making specific behavioural changes.
While sessions will initially be weekly, as you progress they may become less frequent to give you time to try out new ways of interacting and experience the difference this makes. Some couples achieve their goals in six or twelve sessions, while others may need longer. If you or your partner have been impacted by mental health difficulties, trauma, racism, or discrimination based on gender, sexuality or any other characteristic, we may decide to take things more slowly and have additional sessions. I can also support couples who have decided to separate and would like advice about managing separation and child contact arrangements.
Training, qualifications, and experience
I have been working with families and couples for over 17 years, across the NHS, social care and private practice.
As a clinician in the NHS, I worked with couples impacted by mental illness and provided both relationship and parenting support, in CAMHs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), Great Ormond Street (Feeding and Eating Disorders and Mildred Creak Unit), and in adult eating disorders inpatient as a highly specialist systemic and family psychotherapist.
Prior to training as a psychotherapist, I was a social worker and children’s guardian in public and private family law. This gave me particular experience in high-conflict separation, difficulties around child arrangements and contact, and domestic abuse.
I bring this experience together in my work with couples, offering a thoughtful and supportive space to understand what is happening in the relationship and consider how things might change.
I am fully registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and am committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional practice.
Primary qualifications
MSc in Family Therapy, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London
MA in Social Work, University of East London/Tavistock
Doctorate and former lecturer in English Literature, Birkbeck College, London
Availability, fees, and contact details
I offer sessions from 10 am until 7 pm, Tuesday to Friday, and Saturday morning.
I prefer face to face, especially in the early stages, but also offer on-line. The initial 50 minute consultation is free of charge, and after that my fee is £100 per 50 minute session.
Please inquire about reduced rates for concessions and lower income.
You can contact me by email brixtoncouplestherapy@gmail.com