Mrs Anna-Maria Small
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS17-05403
Location: Dungannon

My purpose as a counsellor, is to create a safe and open environment, for you to explore your experiences and confront them within a safe and confidential surrounding. I am aware we can't undo our experiences, but we can find a way to manage and process our feelings towards them. I understand that this kind of process can be overwhelming for neurodiverse people and so, my service will be developed around their needs.
My aim as a Sensory Mentor is to educate people about the importance of minding your senses. When we are triggered- so is our senses therefore there becomes an imbalance causing our emotions to deregulate. This can have a ripple effect on our inner system, our environment and with the relationships we have with people.
I feel that people can be stopped very quickly from achieving so much more than they can, due to past situations that may have impacted them, or their neurodiverse brain isn’t supported well.
My goal is to support, encourage, and educate young people and adults around their mental well-being and neurodiversity.
I currently co found Mind Our Kids, specifically aimed to help people, educators, and our wider community to understand neurodiversity. The purpose is to make the world meet the needs of our neurodivergent kids/adults rather than have them meet the needs of the world. I feel we need to be more accepting and knowing for there to be any change- Change will happen if we stand together and be proud of who we are!
“For a child or an adult, it’s extremely powerful to hear someone say, “I get you. I understand. I see why you feel this way.” This kind of empathy disarms us. Say yes to the feelings, even as you say no to the behaviour.”
— Daniel J. Siegel