About Annette
I have dedicated much of my time trying to decipher the role of emotions, and to understand why they seem so complex to navigate. I believes that this knowledge will improve the wellbeing of children and young people and enhance the relationships between them and their caregivers.
Drawing on research, lived experience and observing patterns while working with clients, I have developed a practical framework which reveals how moments of emotional disconnect often subtle and unintentional, can quietly shape long term outcomes for young people.
These early ruptures appear to activate anxiety, depression, aggression or toxic positivity. They also seem to prompt patterns of self criticism that follow children into adolescence and adulthood.
My approach is rooted in prevention. I offer clear accessible insights that elevate emotional understanding in ways that protect and preserve a child’s natural emotional expression. By helping caregivers recognise what a child’s behaviour is communicating, I can empower them to respond in ways that help children feel important and loved.
My commitment to exploring emotional dynamics has shed light on the specific role that shame can play. Rather than being solely a negative experience, shame serves as a safeguard for young people, helping to shield them from the onset of depression, anxiety and aggressive behaviours.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: Children thrive when they feel emotionally secure. When they feel seen, valued and understood, they develop the resilience, confidence and self-belief they need to find fulfilment in life.
To support this, I have created a practical framework that helps parents, teachers, and caregivers understand children’s emotions in their natural form, before they become tangled, supressed or expressed through challenging behaviour.
My approach offers clear insights on the specific responses that protect children’s emotional integrity rather than override it.
I have a passion to build strong emotional connections between caregiver and child, not through perfection but through awareness, curiosity and presence.
When we respond to children with attuned understanding, we don’t just manage behaviour, we nurture identity, belonging, and long-term emotional health.
Every child deserves to feel visible. Every adult deserves to feel confident in how they support them. My mission is to bridge that gap.
Mission Statement
My mission is to enlighten parents teachers and caregivers about the vital role emotions play in the development of children and young people.
By understanding how emotions function, we can ensure that the children of today learn to utilise these vital qualities as nature intended.
Vision Statement
My vision is to see the subject of emotions formally incorporated into the national curriculum.
By equipping students with the knowledge and skills to understand the workings of emotions, I hope to empower them to protect their own children and minimise the chances of them experiencing toxic emotions in the future.
This commitment supports the creation of a safer and more emotionally aware society for generations to come.
Annette’s Story
I was born and raised in Dublin. At the age of 22, I decided to move to London. A few years later I met my husband and we married in 1998.
In 2000 our child was born. However, during the pregnancy I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This marked a turning point in my life, as I struggled to navigate motherhood and the daily challenges of a chronic health condition.
I began to notice my own emotions becoming erratic, I was eventually diagnosed with post natal depression and anti-depressants were prescribed. I also struggled to understand how to effectively respond to our young child’s emotional outbursts. These experiences sparked my curiosity and interest in the workings of emotions.
After several years, when life became more manageable and I no longer required medication for depression, I decided to train to become a counsellor, to make sense of why I felt so ill-equipped as a mother.
Since qualifying in 2016, I have worked with adults in private practice. My specialism lies in childhood trauma and the process of ‘Healing the Inner Child’.
I have a keen interest in ‘The ACE Score’ and would like to make caregivers aware of the consequences that trauma can have on the health and wellbeing of young people. This knowledge could help to prevent non-hereditary chronic health conditions from surfacing in adulthood. https://pinetreeinstitute.org/aces/.
Availability
At present, I have a limited number of morning and afternoon spaces available for online counselling. If you are interested, please message me through my contact page and I will get back to you.
