Happiful – August 2019

a box set, seeing a friend, or

going for a massage. I treat those

days like they are a doctor’s

appointment, because they’re

essential for my health.”

Anna is also emphatic about the

need to keep learning, and she

continues to be deeply interested

in mental health, psychology,

and learning more about human

interactions. She reads widely, and

tunes into other people’s thinking

on these subjects, as part of her

own professional and personal

development.

Anna has therapy, too – in the

form of supervision for her career

and for herself, and she continues

to be an advocate for the positive

impact counselling and coaching

can have.

“I really feel that everyone should

have someone to offload to, and

therapy is such an important

and cathartic thing to do,” she

shares. “I would say to anyone

reading this, please don’t wait until

something is wrong.

“To have someone, a counsellor

or coach, to sit down and talk

to, especially if you’re busy and

you wear a lot of hats – parent

hat, work hat, relationship hat

• having someone that you can
  work everything through with,
  and prioritise your own happiness
  and wellbeing in that time, is
  extremely beneficial.”
  She pauses. “As well as carving
  out that bit of time for yourself
  and having a good old gossip
  with a girlfriend,” she laughs.
  “The power of that should not be
  underestimated.”

through some hard stuff,’ she says
plainly. “I’ve suffered with really
bad mental health, and life has
thrown some really challenging
times at me – as it has with a lot of
people.”
“I’ve learned through these
experiences – in therapy and then
through professional training

• that being authentic and true
  to yourself is actually the key to
  wellness and happiness.
  “So many of us feel we have to
  fit into a mould, people-please,
  or be something that we’re not
  sometimes, and I learned the hard
  way that I am who I am, and I
  don’t need to pretend I’m anyone
  I’m not.”
  So, in addition to keeping it real,
  how does Anna keep it all going?
  From the outside, she seems to be
  spinning a lot of plates...
  “There is a certain amount of
  juggling that goes on – but also,
  becoming a parent gives you so
  much perspective. You realise that
  you’re keeping a little person alive,
  and that their needs are more
  important than anything else.
  “I’ve become really disciplined
  since becoming a mum,” she adds.
  “Whereas before I could burn the
  candle at both ends, say yes to
  things that perhaps I shouldn’t, and
  I was teetering on people-pleasing.
  “All of that has gone, because I
  have a little boy who needs to go to
  bed at 7pm, or be picked up from
  nursery – so it’s really important
  for me to have a disciplined
  routine day-to-day.”
  However, Anna is aware that to
  stay well and mentally healthy,
  she also needs to make time
  for herself. “I plan ‘days of no
  obligation’,” she explains. “They
  are quite few and far between, but
  they are for me to do whatever I
  want to; whether that’s watching

Anna Willamson is a mind coach,

TV presenter, podcast host, author,

and a celebrity dating agent on E4’s

‘Celebs Go Dating’. Follow Anna on

Instagram @annawilliamsonofficial

To find a therapist or life coach near

you, visit counselling-directory.org.uk

or lifecoach-directory.org.uk

August 2019 • happiful.com • 75