Anne Marie Frost

Personal Information

I have been married for 28 years - to the same person! He was previously married, so I have two step-sons - both married and with kids of their own, I have been a step-child myself - and I know the ins and outs of a blended family.

My faith and Spiritual life mean a great deal to me, yet, I respect all people's views and where they are at on that continuum.

OH! I also have "furry children" - my dogs. Some people find this description of dogs as appalling, but I'm not one of them! I love my girls - both are Havanese (as in Havana, Cuba; they are a "cousin" to the Maltese). Both Maddie and Lilly bring a lot of fun and joy to our lives!

Qualifications

I have two Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees - one in English and one in Biblical Studies from Evangel University (College back in those days). I did pretty much nothing with either of these degrees (at least directly), but I have never regretted my education.

Then 20 years after undergrad, I went back to school to get my Master's in Counseling Psychology/LPC in MO. I am a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) as well as the National Association for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (NABCT). I am a Certified Weight Loss Specialist with the NABCT. I am about to start an 8-month long course to become a Certified Life Coach in Eating Psychology.

Specialties & Issues

I have worked with numerous people who are suffering with addictions. I believe that very few, if any, of us get out of this life without dealing with some sort of addiction at some point in our lives.

It is not always the "biggies" such as alcohol and/or drugs, and tobacco. We can be addicted to "good" stuff like work, food (another "biggie" really), video games, exercise, or another person or relationship! I especially understand the beleaguered and "beaten up" women and men who suffer with weight, food addiction, and the self-loathing that can come with it. I have found some true freedom in this area, though I'm constantly learning more and more about it.

I like to work from a strengths-based stance - rather than looking all the "wrong" or all the "sickness" we tend to identify with.

Approach

I am a lover of great quotes and here is a favorite: “Choice, not chance, determines destiny . . . Today you choose.”

The power of choice is a concept that I try to impart to clients. So often people feel powerless – like chance is what got them to the point they are at. But, pretty often, it is actually the choices made. This is one of the basic ideas in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – something I use a lot in sessions.

Another favorite quote: “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.” -Anne Lamott, Author

One of best things about talking to a counselor is one often feels a greater sense of hope very quickly! Why? Because just making that first small step is a key component to feeling better, and can bring about feelings of hope that, perhaps, have been missing for a long time.