Annarose Stewart (Intern Therapist)

Annarose Stewart (she/her/hers) will be an intern therapist at The Center for Growth from August 12th, 2024 to August 12th, 2025. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Temple University. She uses person-centered trauma-informed therapy with elements of relational therapy, narrative therapy, creative arts therapies, somatic therapies, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness.

Annarose’s central philosophy involves combatting negative self-talk and self-blame to help clients move forward as more confident and resilient individuals. Using person-in-environment, client-centered, strength-based, and empowerment models of help Annarose focuses on creating a safe and comfortable space where her clients can engage with the experiences and identities they may not have felt comfortable confronting before. It is her priority to remain open to the complexities of her clients' experiences and understand that each client is the expert on their own life.

Annarose has experience with a variety of obstacles including grief, chronic illness, eating disorders, relationship & family conflicts, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and more. Annarose has extensive experience working with neurodivergent clients and clients with non-traditional family & relationship structures. She is interested in using creative arts and somatic therapies to help clients express themselves and reconnect with their bodies. Annarose believes strongly that there is a direct connection between physical and mental health and, using a holistic approach, Annarose works with clients to create wellness goals in line with their core values.

During a session, clients can expect a collaborative experience where they will lead the conversation and focus on their priorities. As a client, you will explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they relate to each other in a safe and supportive environment. Using a trauma-informed lens, Annarose will help you build a stronger relationship with yourself and you will establish coping strategies and wellness goals that are tailored to your life.

Special Interests:

Neurodiversity, Bereavement, Chronic Illness, Non-traditional families/relationships, Self Esteem, Creative Expression, Eating Disorders, Body Image & Disconnection, Queerness, Kink, Life Transitions

Person-Centered Approach

Annarose prioritizes creating a supportive therapeutic relationship that is client-led and client-focused. She facilitates this by meeting her clients where they are and engaging them with non-judgemental encouragement. Annarose’s goal is to create a safe space where her clients can learn how to navigate their internal experiences; she works with them to develop coping mechanisms to help them accept and regulate their emotional landscape while interacting with their external world.

Annarose believes that each human is the primary expert on their own experience. Therefore, she knows healing is best done when one feels in control of their healing journey. She understands you know more about your experience than you may realize and can lend support and encouragement if you feel lost. While she cannot promise you will always feel comfortable, her priority is ensuring you feel safe and supported enough to sit with your discomfort so you may grow through the experience rather than continuing to feel stuck.

Relational Approach

As hyper-social creatures, relationships are central to our well-being and mental health. With this in mind, Annarose helps her clients understand how their relationships (both past and present) can greatly affect their ability to regulate and even understand their own experiences. Through your sessions, you will work through your relationship patterns and dynamics to help you discern where your attachment and identity wounds originated and help you create coping mechanisms to change patterns that no longer serve you.

Narrative Approach

Stories are how we make sense of ourselves and the world around us. Annarose works with her clients to understand and define the stories they are telling themselves about their life, their body, and their relationships. Once you have established what your current stories are telling, Annarose will help you challenge those assumptions in a safe environment where she will strive to help you feel empowered to change your story and take control of your narrative.

Embodied Approach

Annarose believes that mental health is deeply connected to physical health and depends on a secure relationship with your body. In sessions, you will discuss your relationship with your body and how you may feel connected or disconnected. She will work with you to create an embodiment practice that will help build a more positive relationship with your body while simultaneously giving you coping mechanisms to help ground you. Annarose will help you create a wellness plan that works for your schedule and will help promote a healthy body and mind.

Bereavement

Grief is one of the only universal experiences that humans encounter. No matter who you are or where you live, you will at some point encounter grief. Even though it is a completely natural process, grief can feel like the end of the world. There is no way to grieve wrong; everyone has their way of processing loss. However, when your grief feels unending or is starting to affect your ability to live your life then it may be time to seek some professional support. Annarose has years of experience working with grieving people and will create a supportive and non-judgmental space for you to work through your grief wherever you are on your journey. She will work with you to build coping strategies that work with your pre-existing strengths and help you process all the changes that come with great loss.

Chronic Illness

One of the most difficult aspects of chronic illness is renegotiating your identity after your diagnosis. If you are struggling with a new diagnosis, or are feeling burnt out from a long-diagnosed illness, Annarose can help you process your experience. Diagnosed with a chronic illness herself, Annarose understands how debilitating burnout can be when navigating the world daily as a chronically ill person. Whether you have just begun your journey or have been struggling with a diagnosis for years, Annarose will collaborate with you to create goals and coping mechanisms from a strength-based and empowerment perspective.

Non-traditional Relationships, Queer & Kink Friendly Therapy

Like snowflakes, no two relationships are the same. That being said, there are relationship styles that are not widely accepted by our society. Annarose understands that every relationship is unique and comes with joys and challenges. Annarose will approach your sessions with curiosity about your relationship dynamics and priorities and will help create relationship wellness goals. Regardless of who you love, how you love, or how many people you love, Annarose creates a judgment-free, supportive space for you to create and enact your love, identity, and relationship goals.

Background

Annarose found therapy through a combination of her own challenging life experiences and a dedication to helping others grow. Before her work at The Center for Growth, Annarose interned at Temple Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, working with some of the most vulnerable populations in our community. Previously, Annarose was a Shakespeare Teaching Artist and Tutor. She taught several topics including chess and Shakespeare but the majority of her time was spent tutoring writing. Annarose received her Bachelor’s in Literature from Bard College in 2016 where, in addition to working with neurodivergent students and students with learning disabilities, she tutored writing for the Bard Prison Initiative. Working with incarcerated students, helped Annarose learn that no matter who you are or where you're from, you can accomplish great things when given the support you need. This experience was the catalyst for her becoming a social worker.

Annarose’s experiences working with disadvantaged populations have increased her ability to listen without judgment, taught her how to engage with clients without making assumptions, and honed her conversation and connection skills. Her years in customer service gave her the ability to keep a cool head under immense pressure and taught her how to build rapport with the whole spectrum of humanity. She also understands the stress that working people are under and can work with you to create a treatment plan that will work for your life no matter how chaotic or stressful it may be.

Hobbies

Annarose loves music (singing, dancing, writing), Shakespeare, cooking & baking, walking and playing with her dog, and spending time in nature. She loves watching (and rewatching) bad TV and loves reading escapist fantasy novels. She loves knitting, sewing, and working with her hands. She loves conversing with new people and spending quality time with friends. Annarose uses journaling, dance, meditation, yoga, and her dog Eva to help her stay grounded. She knows that self-care looks different for everyone and is excited to help you build a self-care routine that works for your life and relationships.

Take Your Next Step with Annarose

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Annarose please email her directly or schedule your appointment online. Annarose understands that taking the first step to make an appointment can be intimidating so please don’t hesitate to let her know anything that would make your first session more comfortable.