Annarose Stewart, Intern Therapist

Annarose Stewart (she/her/hers) will see individuals and couples as an intern sex & relationship therapist at The Center for Growth from August 26th,  2024 to August 26th, 2025. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Temple University. She uses person-centered trauma-informed therapy with elements of relational therapy, narrative therapy, creative arts therapies, somatic therapies, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness, and other methods. 

Annarose’s central philosophy involves combatting negative self-talk and self-blame to help clients move forward as more confident and resilient individuals. Using person-in-environment, client-centered, strength-based, and empowerment models of help Annarose focuses on creating a safe and comfortable space where her clients can engage with their sexual experiences and identities they may not have felt comfortable confronting before. It is her priority to remain open to the complexities of each human’s sexuality and to understand that each client is the expert on their own experience. 

Annarose has experience with a variety of relationship obstacles including infidelity, body image and self-esteem issues, poly and non-monogamous conflicts, desire discrepancy, chronic illness, eating disorders, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and more. Annarose has extensive experience working with neurodivergent clients and clients with non-traditional family and relationship structures. She is interested in using creative arts and somatic therapies to help clients express themselves and reconnect with their bodies. Annarose believes strongly that there is a direct connection between physical and sexual health and, using a holistic approach, Annarose works with clients to create wellness goals in line with their core values.

During a session, clients can expect a collaborative experience where they will be able to lead the conversation and focus on their priorities. As a client, you will explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they relate to each other in a safe and supportive environment. Using a trauma-informed lens, Annarose will help you build a stronger relationship with yourself and your partner. Together, you will establish coping strategies and wellness goals that are tailored to your lifestyle.

Special Interests:

Neurodiversity, Polyamory, Queer & Trans, Kink, Desire Discrepancy, Relationship conflict, Infidelity, Self Esteem and Body image issues, Sex Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Inability to orgasm, Frustrations with sex drive (too high/too low)

Queer Friendly Therapy

Annarose uses trauma-informed therapy to create spaces for people to feel comfortable engaging with their sexual challenges. Using queer and feminist theory, she empowers her clients to feel comfortable and confident within their identities. Annarose has extensive experience working with queer and trans clients but is aware that every individual is unique and encourages her clients to define their gender & sexuality identities in their own words. Using a strength-based model, she will guide her clients through the creation of a sexual wellness plan that will address her client’s primary concerns. 

Non-traditional & Kink-Friendly Therapy

Annarose is interested in working with poly, queer, and kinky individuals and couples. Like snowflakes, no two individuals or relationships are the same. Annarose understands that every relationship is unique and comes with joys and challenges. Annarose will approach your sessions with curiosity about your relationship dynamics and priorities. Regardless of who you love, how you love, or how many people you love, Annarose creates a judgment-free, supportive space for you to create and enact your love, identity, and relationship goals. Annarose will leave it up to you to define your partners and your family; she is happy for you to include any other important relationships in your life. Annarose is dedicated to your priorities and will help you work though obstacles in any important relationships in your life. 

Person-Centered Approach

Annarose prioritizes creating a supportive therapeutic relationship that is client-led and client-focused. She facilitates this by meeting her clients where they are and engaging them with non-judgemental encouragement. Annarose’s goal is to create a safe space where her clients can learn how to navigate their internal experiences; she works with them to develop coping mechanisms to help them accept and regulate their emotional landscape while interacting with themselves or their partners in sexual contexts. 

Annarose believes that each human is the primary expert on their own experience. Therefore, she knows healing is best done when one feels in control of their healing journey and much relationship stress comes from feeling lost, helpless, or stuck. She understands that you know more about your experience than you may realize and can lend support and encouragement to help guide you to where you would like to be. While she cannot promise that you will always feel comfortable, her priority is ensuring that you feel safe and supported enough to sit with your discomfort so you may grow and move towards a more holistic and grounded state of sexual health.

Relational Approach

As hyper-social creatures, relationships are central to our well-being and mental health. With this in mind, Annarose helps her clients understand how their relationships (both past and present) can greatly affect their ability to regulate and even understand their own experiences. Through your sessions, you will work through your relationship patterns and dynamics to help you understand where your attachment and identity wounds originated and create coping mechanisms to change any patterns that are no longer serving you. 

Whether you are attending sessions as an individual or a couple, Annarose will work with you to understand how your past relationships are affecting your current relationship with yourself and others. In the session, Annarose will help you understand your relationship history and will clarify what you and your partner are bringing to the table. Once you’ve established the patterns and dynamics that are at play you will work together to build a wellness plan that will help you grow towards a healthier future. 

Narrative Approach

Stories are how we make sense of ourselves and the world around us. Annarose works with you to understand and define the stories you are currently telling yourself about your life, your body, and your relationships. Once she has established what your current stories are, Annarose will help you challenge those assumptions in a safe environment where she will give you the tools to feel empowered to take control of your narrative. 

Embodied Approach

Annarose believes that mental health is deeply connected to physical health and depends on a connection to your body. In sessions, she will discuss your relationship with your body and how you may feel connected or disconnected. She will work with you to create an embodiment practice that will help build a more positive relationship with your body while simultaneously giving you coping mechanisms to help ground you in the present moment. Annarose will help you create a wellness plan that works for your schedule and will help promote a healthy body and mind. 

Background

Annarose was led to therapy by a combination of her own challenging life experiences and a dedication to helping others grow. Before her work at The Center for Growth, Annarose interned at Temple Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, working with some of the most vulnerable populations in our community. Previously, Annarose was a Shakespeare Teaching Artist and Tutor. She taught several topics including chess and Shakespeare but the majority of her time was spent tutoring writing. Annarose received her Bachelor’s in Literature from Bard College in 2016 where, in addition to working with neurodivergent students and students with learning disabilities, she tutored writing for the Bard Prison Initiative. Working with incarcerated students, helped Annarose learn that no matter who you are or where you’re from, you can accomplish great things when given the support you need. This experience was the catalyst for her becoming a social worker. 

Annarose’s experiences working with disadvantaged populations have increased her ability to listen without judgment, taught her how to engage with clients without making assumptions, and honed her conversation and connection skills. Her years in customer service gave her the ability to keep a cool head under immense pressure and taught her how to build rapport with the whole spectrum of humanity. She also understands the stress that working people are under and can work with you to create a treatment plan that will work for your life no matter how chaotic or stressful it may be.

Hobbies

Annarose loves music (singing, dancing, writing), Shakespeare, cooking & baking, walking and playing with her dog, and spending time in nature. She loves watching (and rewatching) bad TV and loves reading escapist fantasy novels. She loves knitting, sewing, and working with her hands. She loves conversing with new people and spending quality time with friends. Annarose uses journaling, dance, meditation, yoga, and her dog Eva to help her stay grounded. She knows that self-care looks different for everyone and is excited to help you build a self-care routine that works for your life and relationships.

Take Your Next Step with Annarose

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Annarose please email her directly or schedule your appointment online. Annarose understands that taking the first step to make an appointment can be intimidating so please don’t hesitate to let her know anything that would make your first session more comfortable.