Anna MacGillivray

Hi, I’m Anna!

I started studying psychology out of a keen desire to understand myself while also being somewhat unwilling to ask for help. My own struggles led me to pursue knowledge about human behaviour, emotion, the body, yoga, eastern medicine, ayurveda, breathwork, and the like. I sought for years to heal my pain through knowledge. Although knowledge has helped, I have found and experienced that true healing happens in human-to-human interaction. Being witnessed, sharing in pain, and feeling seen can transform the head knowledge into an embodied knowing and understanding. Having experienced the transformative power of connection, I wanted to offer this support to others.

Over the years, my most profound learning and growth has come from mentors and teachers who sat graciously, quietly trusting the process, and willingly came alongside me with patience and compassion as I fought with the truths I didn’t want to be true. I know how uncomfortable the growing pains can be and how significant it is to willingly walk into the discomfort of self-exploration. I hope to offer the kind of support that allows you to wrestle with what you’re learning while finding some ease in knowing you’re not facing that discomfort alone.

I hope that choosing to pursue counselling can leave you feeling more comfortable and at ease in your life. I am here to encourage you, to sit with you, to draw attention to blind spots and patterns, and to offer insight and tools to support your life. I am happy to provide accountability, encouragement, feedback, and care as you pursue greater well-being.

I offer individual and couples counselling services to anyone seeking change, understanding, and comfort. I have a strong understanding of, and often work with people leaning towards coping strategies that involve numbing or disconnection from the body or the present experience. This might look like dissociation, keeping extraordinarily busy, a never-ending pursuit of accomplishments, using substances as a way to pacify feelings, a complicated relationship to food or exercise, and the like.

I come to this work with a heart that cares and feels deeply and a mind that likes to find patterns, make connections, and problem-solve. I am continually humbled by and in awe of humanity as I hear and hold the stories I’m privileged to be trusted with. I know what it’s like to feel stuck, to resist what you need, to hide from the truth of your experience, and to want some freedom from all of that. The pain part is inevitable, but we do not need to move through it alone. I am here to journey with you, laugh with you, hold space for you, and explore with you.

My approach to therapy is rooted in theories such as emotion-focused therapy, somatic experiencing, and narrative therapy. These theories seek to understand the patterns of how we react to the world, where these patterns are serving us, where they’re in our way, how our experiences manifest in our bodies, and the meaning we make of all of it. With these theories in mind, I work holistically to help support you in your change and growth.

If you find yourself with questions about counselling, wanting to know more about me or to see if we’re a good fit, or eager to start the process, please reach out. I look forward to getting to know you!