Anthea McCarten Author & Advocate for the silenced

22/12/2024

Personal Growth and Self Development discovered through art.

What is Personal Growth?
Changing our mindset and doing this after spending years in survival mode is no mean feat but it is most definitely achievable.

Life experiences can dictate who we become, define us; life altering events will impact all areas of our lives.

Mental Skills.
Emotional Skills.
Social Skills.
Spiritual Skills & Beliefs.
Physical Development.

As a qualified therapist and survivor of Childhood Trauma, I have been nurturing a growing passion, to use art as a tool to support and facilitate others as they choose to learn more about themselves.
A next step if you will, especially after you have been through personal therapy.

“I’ve received therapy, what do I do now??”
“I don’t know who I am, who am I?”
“How did I get to be who I am today?”
And…
“I have no words left, how else can I express and let go of this heavy baggage?”

Burning questions so many of us find ourselves pondering over at least once in this journey called life.

Self reflection and awareness being explored and expressed in art is a brand new seed I’m watering, so naturally I’m feeling very excited!

We can become a stable foundation to build whatever we choose.

Art is a beautiful and non verbal way of expressing our emotions, feelings, thoughts and connecting with our most authentic true selves and parts yet to be discovered.

Look beyond those crashing waves, the beauty of landscapes, the abstract and so on; discover self by understanding more of the individual, you, the one holding that paint brush or whatever tools you use to create a space of peace.

Personal growth in art is worrying less about reaching perfection in the piece we’re creating and more about embracing the meaning behind it.

Lots of love, inner peace and blessings! A very happy Christmas to you all! 🫶🏻🎨

If you have any questions please do ask.

I’m going to call this new venture;
Anthea’s Art Path
A Palette for Growth.
You’ll find me on IG

https://www.instagram.com/antheas_artpath/profilecard/?igsh=cW56eWplZThnNTds

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fans

02/10/2024

Fear, anxiety and panic are big snowballs!

Fearing fear and trying to suppress it, only magnifies it.

When I was abused, especially the first time, it felt as though someone had just pushed me off a cliff, I was plummeting, falling and feeling the inevitable excruciating pain from the fall.
What I hadn't anticipated was that the pain from being pushed and betrayed by one who I so naively loved, would endure for decades until I began the healing process.

Panick, fear and anxiety very quickly became part of my every day life, I was afraid of everything and almost everyone.

I trusted nothing and no one until my psychotherapist in hospital helped me to see fear and anxiety as a tool to use as part of the trauma healing process and not an enemy of it.

Fear and anxiety is our bodies way of alerting us to danger, telling us to be alert.
My therapist suggested that I could thank my body for helping me to be aware of what's going on around. Being aware is how we can navigate our way through life.

Being Self Aware is a key element of our healing!

fanst clip is a glimpse into how I changed how I used to see and experience crippling anxiety.



fans

Check out ’s video.

10/09/2024

Forgiving the abuser/s

A necessity or an option in order for Trauma Recovery to take place?

We can let go of anger, find peace and healing even when we are unable to forgive so many people from our past, particularly those who are not seeking forgiveness and especially those who don’t acknowledge that they’ve hurt and abused us.

There is a misconception that healing and peace is impossible to achieve without forgiving abusers; forgiveness is an option, not a requirement or a necessity for trauma recovery to take place.

Forgiveness was not a focus point in my personal therapy until my wonderfully informed therapist believed that I was ready.
(This was at least 2 years in)

That was over 20 years ago now.
When I said,
“I’ve tried but I just can’t forgive him.”
She replied,
“Who told you that you have to?”

This was one of the most awakening and liberating moments of my entire therapeutic journey.

She encouraged me take a look back over the 2 years and all the healing work I’d accomplished. My therapist helped me to see how I was already experiencing a new found strength, healing, resilience and growth without us even broaching the topic of forgiveness.

This freeing revelation removed the shame that I had been carrying from ‘others’ expectations and teachings;

- “How can you expect to be forgiven, if you can’t forgive?”
(or)
- “You won’t be able to heal or move on if you don’t forgive.”
(or)
- “All the while bitterness is in your heart you’ll never heal.”

Was another assuming, sweeping statement.
I wasn’t bitter and had already made huge healing strides by that point.

Surprise, surprise, there is not one ounce of bitterness, anger or resentment in me and I walked away from ‘that’ crime scene and from the criminal, without forgiving him.
I unchained myself, I needed to be free from the past, walking in peace and embracing life and freedom.

The confidence that grew within me when I realised I’d set myself free from him and others, rose to epic levels!

Forgiveness is an option, not an obligation to fulfill in order for others to feel better.

We are not here to validate the belief system of others.

Let’s remember to acknowledge and respect fellow victims/survivors and thrivers who are choosing to forgive; their healing process is as valid as ours who are choosing not to forgive.

The key word here is - choice.

Choice and a voice was stolen from us and now we are reclaiming back our power.
Continue to discover your new identity that isn’t defined by the ones who hurt you.
🫶🏻🫶🏻

&thrivers
Adult Survivor of Childhood S. Abuse
Qualified Therapist and Workshop Facilitator
Author; “Shh…” How Childhood Sexual Abuse Almost Stole My Sanity And How I Overcame The Past. FREE with Amazon Kindle Unlimited

27/06/2024

Signs of abuse and
the whys behind those signs. 💜

48 likes, 10 comments. “What is Childhood Trauma? These are traumatic events experienced during the early years of a person's life. This is deemed the most critical developmental period in human life. Understanding our past, acknowledging it without shame and Self Validation is an integral part of...