Annette Shaw ACTAccred
ACT Therapist & IEMT Practitioner
"My life has been a long and winding road with a variety of bumps and junctions, including losing my parents at a young age, suffering overwhelming anxiety and stress, experiencing domestic abuse and always feeling somewhere between completely lost and acting a part in a real-life soap opera.
After relocating back to my home county of Norfolk, I decided that the time had come to face my discomfort and pain, rather than running away from it. Over the course of a few years I worked out who I am, why I'm here and found the passion, direction and purpose I’d been looking for all my life. My next step was to train to help others.
I studied hard and trained to be a Life Coach and then I discovered Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). I found that by using ACT tools I could vastly improve the level of vitality and enjoyment I experienced in my life. To bring this into my work helping others, I went on to do extensive training in ACT, Focused-ACT (FACT) and Trauma-Focused ACT (T-FACT) & became an Accredited ACT Practitioner certified by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
In 2023, I became a certified Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT) Practitioner, adding some very powerful techniques to my ever growing therapy toolbox.
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Because of my past experiences, I’m passionate about helping people whose lives are impacted and influenced by the lasting effects of domestic abuse. Although people can start afresh outwardly, with a new home, job etc, they can continue to carry the effects of the abuse inwardly for years, potentially the rest of their lives, which can hugely impact their enjoyment of living.
In working alongside local charities and in my private practice, I've helped many people to transform their lives from merely surviving day to day, to thriving and really enjoying the opportunities that their new life chapter brings them.
As part of my commitment to reduce suffering for families going through separation, in 2023 I trained as a Mediation Champion with The Family Mediation Trust. I've seen how painful, complicated, expensive and lengthy it can be for families going through the court system, and mediation can be a much easier, cheaper and shorter process involving a lot less conflict.
My vision for Pause Reflect Grow is to help you transform your life from merely surviving day to day, to thriving and reaching your full potential. I am committed to helping you move on from ‘fire-fighting’ your way through life, to growing, flourishing and thriving. Here you will find a safe and supportive space to grow into who you truly are deep in your heart; where you will practice using new tools to help you create the lasting change you want; you'll work out who you really are, how you want to show up every day and what you want to get from your wonderful one-time gift called life."
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Annette lives with her partner and lively little terrier called Henry, in a tranquil corner of rural Norfolk.