Annie Sloss Melbourne Based
Trauma Therapist, Art Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Counsellor.
My work is grounded in my belief that people are the experts in their own lives, and that given the right conditions, the brain is capable of healing, growth, and lasting change. My hope is that we can work together to create the conditions that support the changes you are seeking.
Where a psychiatric or pathologizing lens might see a symptom or problem, I see a meaningful adaptation—something that has helped a person survive, even if it is not yet understood.
In my work, I strive to avoid giving advice or imposing interpretations. I hold a strong belief that people are the experts in their own lives, and that given the right conditions, the brain is capable of healing, growth, and lasting change.
Annie Sloss is an art therapist and clinical supervisor based in Preston, Melbourne, supporting adults experiencing the impacts of trauma, addiction, eating difficulties, chronic pain and illness, mental health challenges, and neurodivergence.
Finding the right person to work with when you are facing difficulties or feeling stuck in your life can be an arduous and expensive process. It often comes at a time when you are already feeling vulnerable, low in energy, or lacking confidence.
It is my intention that, through browsing this website, you will come to understand the way I work and the values I hold as important both professionally and personally. My hope is that you will come to know me a little, so you can make an informed decision about whether I am someone you feel willing to work with.
Sometimes words are not enough.
Many people come to therapy carrying experiences that are difficult to explain, understand, or put into language. Trauma, chronic pain, neurodivergence, eating difficulties, grief, anxiety, depression, and life transitions can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves, our bodies, and the lives we want to live.
Art therapy offers another way of working that allows us to connect with the areas of the brain that cant be accessed with words..
I am Annie Sloss, a Melbourne-based art and trauma therapist and clinical supervisor with more than twenty-five years’ experience working across adult and adolescent mental health, addictions, trauma, and group therapy. I offer individual therapy, clinical supervision, workshops, and reflective practice groups for adults seeking meaningful change and a deeper understanding of themselves.
My approach is trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, collaborative, and deeply respectful. I believe people make sense of their lives in creative ways, and that healing often begins when we are supported to explore experience with curiosity, compassion, and safety.
I enjoy working with adults navigating the wide range of challenges life brings, both large and small.
My areas of particular experience and interest include:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Complex trauma and dissociation
- Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis
- Eating difficulties and eating disorders
- Chronic pain and persistent health conditions
- Relationship and sexual difficulties
- Addiction and recovery
- Therapy and supervision for therapists, lived experience workers and helping professionals
Multimodal Art Therapy.
Art therapy is not about artistic skill or creating “beautiful” artwork.
It is a way of exploring experiences that may be difficult to access through conversation alone. Through image, metaphor, creativity, movement, writing, sand tray work, and other expressive processes, we can discover new perspectives, uncover strengths, and make meaning from experiences that may feel confusing, overwhelming, or stuck.
No previous art experience is required. We focus on the process of making and what the expression means to you, rather than how it looks.
Clinical Supervision.
I provide clinical supervision for medical professionals, therapists, art therapists, lived experience workers, support workers, and other helping professionals seeking a reflective, thoughtful, and supportive supervision space.
My supervision approach integrates creative and reflective practices alongside contemporary understandings of trauma, attachment, ethics, professional identity, and practitioner wellbeing.
My approach.
My work is informed by Creative Arts Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, Parts work (IFS and TIST), mindfulness practice, somatic methods and contemporary neuroscience. I am a STAIR trained practitioner. STAIR is a set of guiding principles that brings coherence to therapeutic work across different modalities. It supports the development of self-trust, internal integration, and resilience, helping clients move toward their goals with greater clarity and steadiness.
Above all, I aim to walk alongside people with respect, compassion, and curiosity, supporting them to discover their own meanings, strengths, and possibilities.
Book an appointment
I offer sessions in Preston, Melbourne, and online throughout Australia.
To enquire about therapy, clinical supervision, workshops, or group programs, please get in touch:
📧 [email protected]
📞 0403 973 368
Professionally
I am a Registered Nurse Therapist with over twenty-five years’ experience working in adult and adolescent psychiatry, addictions, and trauma therapy. I offer art therapy, counselling, and trauma therapy in person in Preston and online for adults across Australia. I also provide professional supervision and training for individuals and groups.
I hold a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy and qualifications in counselling. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Havening techniques, and somatic methods I have undertaken extensive study in Narrative Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have been practising mindfulness meditation since 1996.
I am a STAIR trained practitioner.
My work is informed by contemporary neuroscience and the compassionate contributions of leaders in the trauma field including Janina Fisher, Pat Ogden, and Julianne Taylor Shore.
Throughout my career, I have been continually inspired by people’s capacity to overcome adversity, and by the innate human desire to become more authentic, kind, connected, and generous.
Personally
I am in my fifties. I grew up in a small town in New Zealand, studied nursing, and moved to Australia in 1991. I have lived in Melbourne since 2001 and currently live in the inner north with my husband and two cats.
In my younger years I travelled extensively and lived in a range of different places. These days I am happiest at home, working in my garden and enjoying the steadiness of belonging to one place.
I love to dance, have dabbled in theatre and percussion, and enjoy making things with my hands.
Testimonial
“Annie is very welcoming and her presence always brings a feeling of calm. There is no pressure or expectations in her sessions and knowing this helped relieve my anxiety. I always felt safe talking to her. Annie was respectful of my feelings and guided me gently, helping me find my own way. I'm so grateful for her generous ear, her wise counsel and most of all, her wonderful sense of humour. I always walked taller as I left her office.”
— Michele