The English-Speaking Counsellor

I’ve been talking to Anne Pilling who runs CalmCare a counselling service for English speakers on the Riviera.

She’s been doing this for ten years and it’s clearly her passion. Her mission statement is ‘Restore harmony for a happy life.’ I like that - it says it all really.

So how does Anne go about restoring this harmony I wonder?

We sit down and over coffee she explains: ‘When you feel that you can't cope with life, talking with a compassionate objective person is essential. That person needs to listen without passing judgement and that (hopefully) helps you to make the right choices.’

She continues: ‘Some people become blocked by emotions of anger and/or fear and if not recognised, these can be turned inwards, which feels like depression.’

Anne says you can unblock these feelings by talking. This then changes the feelings and so the person feels free of the pain and the negative patterns they were locked-into and so better able to manage their emotions.

People see Anne when life isn’t going the way they want. This might be post a divorce or separation, after a change of country, after bereavement, as well as those with issues from childhood or low self esteem.

She has helped a great deal of people over the years and it’s easy to see why as she’s a very calm and caring person. She is immediately easy to talk to as she’s soft and non-judgemental and her office is a quiet and confidential place to explore thoughts and feelings.

Anne also works closely with the Fellowships on 12-step programmes for problems caused by dependence, compulsion and addiction. (Find links to some local meetings at the end)

She strives to help people have happier relationships, because really that is what life is all about. And her background is medical as she used to work as a State Registered Nurse in the UK.

While I’m with Anne we talk about something called a vision board. I’ve heard of mood boards before for interior design, but I was intrigued to know more about these. It’s a board showing how you would like your life to be – and putting it out there for the universe. We both discuss what we’d put on our hypothetical boards and I’m surprised how it focuses the mind. Hmmm might have to do one of those when I get home. And as if this doesn’t keep Anne busy enough, as a licensed trainer, she runs half day workshops based on the ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’® philosophy and the next ones are on Sunday May 15 from 10-1.30pm, and Sunday June 26 from 10 to 1.30pm – both are in Nice and are priced at €60. Visit her site at http://calmcarecounselling.com    If you would like to talk to Anne, the first 30-minute consultation is free and there is no commitment to continue if you decide it’s not for you & you can email her at calmcare@orange.fr Useful links: http://www.aa-riviera.org/aa__french_riviera_meeting_list.htm  http://www.al-anonriviera.org/  http://www.dariviera.org/  The Overeaters Anonymous meeting is held on Mondays at 11 rue de la Buffa, in the church hall of Holy Trinity church, Nice from 12.30-1.30pm.