Who am I?
Why this work matters to me
Hello, I’m Anna, the human behind SomaWise. I am a specialist occupational therapist, working at the intersection of sensory processing and mental health.
I help people gain the tools and knowledge they need so that they can trust their own capacity for wellbeing, supporting them to integrate what they learn until it becomes part of how they live and care for themselves.
I have worked across various services in healthcare and education. Over time I felt increasingly misaligned with the prevailing approaches to mental health care which medicalises, individualises and, in some cases, commodifies very real distress.
Rather than supporting autonomy and growth, approaches too often seem to create long-term dependence, treating people as symptoms to manage, rather than human beings to understand.
My Approach
The way we make meaning of experiences and the framework we apply to them, shapes how we respond.
My approach is grounded in the understanding that:
-The mind and body are inseparable. Nervous system regulation plays a fundamental role in emotional and physical health.
-The body holds valuable information about what we need. Awareness and understanding create greater self compassion.
-Responses to life’s challenges are meaningful, contextual, adaptive and unique to each person.
-Finding life difficult does not mean that there is something disordered, dysfunctional or broken within.
-Good therapy is about growth, but healing is not always linear. Reprocessing does not mean ‘not-coping’.
-Therapy goals are only effective when they are aligned with a person’s identity, values and lived environment.
-Many people need and want practical support and guidance when navigating the challenges daily life can throw our way.
-Engaging in meaningful activities that bring joy can be just as - if not more - beneficial for mental health and wellbeing than structured therapeutic methods.
My Qualifications and Skills
All services are delivered by Anna Cooke, Specialist Occupational Therapist.
I am a fully qualified Occupational Therapist (BSc Hons), registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
I am a qualified Sensory Integration Practitioner (PGCert), and a member of Sensory Integration Education UK.
I have a Masters Degree (LLM) focused on advanced legal study, research, and specialisation within Healthcare Ethics and Law.
I have completed accredited training in a number of somatic and psychotherapeutic modalities including Sensory Integration, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Somatic and Polyvagal approaches, Embodied Education, Trauma-Informed and Strengths-Based Practice.
As a regulated healthcare professional, I work within my scope of practice, keep up to date with the science and evidence-base, and engage in regular clinical supervision and ongoing Continuous Professional Development.
