About Ana O'Keefe- Anxiety Coach
My Name is Ana O’Keefe, I am a fully Certified Master Practitioner of Advance Matrix Therapies, Certified Master Practitioner of NLP, Certified Hypnotist , a Certified Counsellor, Practitioner of Behavioural profiling, Paediatric Hypnosis, Certified Level 1 & 2 Coach, Certified in Emotionally Intelligent Team Programs, and a Certified Professional Speaker and Trainer.
I specialise in anxiety healing and management. I am a trained professional who works with individuals struggling with anxiety. I use a range of techniques and strategies, such as NLP (Neuro- Linguistic Programming) with Matrix Therapies, exposure therapy and mindfulness skills to help individuals manage their symptoms of fear, panic, and worry. I also help individuals identify the root cause(s) of their anxiety and provide tailored support for developing coping skills and resilience. By addressing the emotional, physical and mental aspects of anxiety, I help individuals achieve a better quality of life, and move towards a sense of calmness, stability and wellbeing. With my expertise and compassion, I provide valuable support for individuals coping with anxiety.
Anxiety is a common emotional response that can be triggered by a range of different experiences throughout our lives. Oftentimes, the causes of our anxiety may not be immediately apparent, and we may struggle to understand why we are experiencing feelings of fear, worry, or unease. This is because our experiences and memories can influence our subconscious mind, shaping our attitudes towards life in a way that we may not consciously understand. Unresolved traumas, hidden fears, and negative self-talk can leave us in a state of constant anxiety, without us even realising it.
With Matrix Therapies we are working with the unconscious mind. This allows us to heal the past, negative emotions, negative patterns and negative beliefs.
If you believe you may be suffering from anxiety but aren't sure what to do next, don't hesitate to reach out for support, and I'll help you regain control over your mental and physical wellness, offering support for the journey going forward.
Difference
What makes me unique from other Anxiety professionals?
As an anxiety practitioner, what sets me apart from others is my extensive experience working with anxiety and providing evidence-based techniques to help individuals overcome their anxiety. My approach is highly personalised, taking into account each client's specific anxieties and challenges, and empowering them to develop resilience and effective coping strategies.
I create a safe, non-judgmental environment where individuals can explore their anxiety and fears without fear of shame or ridicule. I pride myself on my compassionate approach, and I am committed to helping each individual I work with overcome their anxiety and build a more fulfilling life. Through my counselling and coaching, I offer helpful and practical tools and resources that can make a real difference in clients' lives. Ultimately, my goal is to help people reduce or eliminate their anxiety, unlock their full potential, and thrive.
I have also been a hairdresser for over 25 years. I have been what you call therapist, mentor, consultant and friend to my clients for many years. I have always had an interest in ‘human behaviour’, why we do what we do, how our experiences effect our present, how our thoughts can be super powerful and at the same time, be very dangerous. What drives us? These are only very few, small examples. But, as you can see, I’m an extremely curious person, not unlike a 3 year old child “ why, why, why…”
I have studied Counselling and now I am also a anxiety practitioner. Because of my endless curiosity, learnings, and my own personal journey, I have the ability to be extremely empathetic, non-judgemental, and I want to support others live a purposeful life.
Before My personal Development Journey
I'm originally from Colombia, adaopted at the age of 12 by an Australian family. My first 20 years of life, was what you would call “in survival mode”.
From birth till about 12 Yrs Old, I was homeless. Bouncing from shelter to abandoned homes to where ever we could find. Food was scarce and the only clothes I had, was what I wore on my back.
In the early 90s, Colombia was a country divided by corruption and violence. Drug cartels in the country had a stranglehold on the government, law enforcement agencies, and the livelihoods of many citizens. The infamous Medellin cartel, headed by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, controlled vast swaths of the country's illegal drug trade, using their vast resources to bribe officials and intimidate citizens.
The violence and corruption that resulted from the drug trade were pervasive, affecting all levels of society and leading to numerous atrocities against innocent people. The government's inability to stem the tide of violence and corruption left many feeling hopeless and helpless. The legacy of corruption in Colombia in the early 90s is one of fear, uncertainty, and deep-seated social issues.
It was at this time that I was ripped out off my mum's arms and put into an "orphanage".
6 months later I was adopted by an Australian family. I was put in the complete unknown, with a new family, not a word of English, and EVERYTHING couldn’t of been more different. A whole new life I had to adjust to.
Fast-forward 23 years later.
It’s fair to say, life has not always been blissful. You could say I have been on the ‘roller coaster’ of life.
The longing for answers to my identity, I returned back to Colombia in search for family and anything that explained my traumatic experiences as a child. To no surprise, all my childhood memories started to make sense, I had answers and now I needed to move forward, but how?
Through my own experiences of been ‘’beaten down” I earned the reputation of being a fighter. Through this I had become resilient and determined. But even as an "ambitious individual", I had many self-limiting beliefs that would have a negative effect on my life. I had developed many survival coping mechanisms, a lot of them preventing me from taking on new opportunities, making good choices or even reaching my full potential. They effected my relationships with family, friends and romantic partners. I was terrible at controlling my emotions and would often explode uncontrollable with anger. I had no boundaries for others or myself. I was all over the place, preventing me from achieving success in all areas of my life.
Outcomes
The Results of Therapy & Coaching
The Healing Process
In 2008 my daughter was born - the moment I knew I had to take control of my life and deal with the "shit". I realised that I had to stop the blaming and playing the victim, that I couldn't change the past but I could 100% take charge of my life! I went through the process of seeing a therapist to work on a lot of my childhood traumas. I then followed my personal healing and development by studying counselling. Not long after that I discovered life coaching.
For someone who has experienced trauma, therapy and coaching provide valuable guidance and support on my journey to healing and recovery. I worked with a life coach who specialised in trauma helping me identify and process my emotions, as well as develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage difficult triggers. We explored and address the impact of trauma on different areas of life, such as relationships, career, and more. I learned to refocus my energy and attention on goals and aspirations, and move forward from the trauma towards a more fulfilling life. I was offered the tools and resources necessary to regain control over my life and find new pathways for growth and purpose. I discovered a completely new me. I was able to make peace with my own inner-child, let go of negative beliefs that I thought was keeping me safe. Let go of events that were keeping my body and mind trap. I was held accountable – I was supported to make sense of my life and relationships or lack thereof. And; finally I was freed of my BS story that had been holding me back from experiencing the life and relationships I truly wanted.
Through my own journey, my life experiences and the LOVE of wanting to help others, and make a difference, Therapy and Coaching has completely changed my life.
And now I support individuals struggling with anxiety to achieve a life filled with joy, adventure, romance, deep connections, self-belief, and a sense of true power and free from anxiety.
I believe anything is possible, no matter what you’ve gone through in life. At some point you need to take responsibility and be accountable for the life you’re after.
No excuses, just take action!
“Michael Jordan wouldn’t be the greatest basketball player and (arguably) the greatest athlete of our time without Phil Jackson…”