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.

14/09/2024

Try not to compare yourselves to media platforms and their healing highlights.

A word of encouragement from a qualified therapist and fellow survivor;

No one has healed completely, no matter how far we progress in our healing process, we will continue to heal, learn, grow and evolve everyday until we draw our last breath.

Healing is something we all do, everyone, every single day.
When we to stop self shaming and comparing ourselves to another’s healing walk, we set ourselves free from the external pressures and this enables our healing to become more enjoyable;
there is so much power in this process.

I don’t do what I do because I’ve made it.

I support others, support you because I know that once we choose healing, it enables our lives to slowly begin to change.
Darkness dissolves and we evolve.

Fellow survivors and thrivers, I love and believe in you all!







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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

18/07/2024

Excruciating emotional pain.

How do you describe your experience of waking up every morning knowing it’s another day to choose you, choose healing?

Waking up to excruciating emotional pain was my experience in those early years of trauma and recovery;
I nearly lost my fight but I held on and over 20 years later…

I am so thankful for not giving up on little Anthea, she deserved the hope I fought for, she deserves the healing we are experiencing together in our here-and-now. 💕

Please keep holding on, you both deserve it. 🫶🏻

39 likes, 2 comments. “Keep choosing life because when you do, you are choosing you. The shame is not yours. Let go of the version others saw you as; you are NOT worthless, you are worthy of this beautiful gift called life.”

05/07/2024

Topic;
OCD/OCT - Intrusive Thoughts
Labels
(and) Sense of self

Further notes in the comments.

Let’s share with each other those ‘signs’ and symptoms of abuse that we believe or once believed to be part our make up and identity??

Or, what signs have you been able to recognise as being symptoms of trauma and are working through them now?

In this photo was an ugly sign post and a dear friend of mine used an app to erase the image; my brain saw it as mess and I’m not sure I would have shared an otherwise, beautiful photograph.
👀 (Zoom in and you may be able to spot where it was)👀

How many can relate?

❓What causes OCD/OCT and intrusive thoughts❓

Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD; Genetics, science and environmental factors as well as traumatic events experienced are all factors contributing to the brains cognitive functioning.

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...

23/06/2024

You are not lazy, you are tired from surviving. 💜

Check out ’s video.

21/06/2024

We can choose to break generational cycles of abuse and trauma.

When they say;
"It runs in the family."
Rather than accept, reject and say,
"And this is where it runs out."

Healing from trauma means walking away from all that brought you pain; all that feels familiar can become a false sense of security but that familiarity will hold you back from taking steps towards recovery and healing from the past.

Acknowledge and normalise the grief your experiencing but know that in time, you will find peace and bring healing change for your children and their childrens children.

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20/06/2024

For any of my fellow survivors who are bikers. 🏍️
I highly recommend Mental Health Motorbike a non profit, registered charity if you feel like you need extra support.
It’s a free service run by bikers for bikers.

Mental Health Motorbike are qualified mental health first aiders. We use our motorbikes and people skills to support bikers dealing with mental health issues.

15/06/2024

"This years theme for Men’s Mental Health week is:
Men don't talk, we're told.
So for Men's Health Week, this week 2024 we're encouraging men to share their stories.

Lets encourage everyone to start conversations about mental health, we all have it, and help to address the stigma that surrounds it.

👀 Watch this space.👀
I will be interviewing a fellow survivor Ryan Harland (AKA) Riding The Storm live on Facebook very soon.
With an opportunity for you all to ask us questions at the end.

We will share more information next week on Date and Time plus what we will be discussing.
I can’t wait to hear more of Ryan’s Story.

Harland

Check out ’s video.

13/06/2024

Healing hurts.

Healing takes a long time, it’s hard but despite this, you are choosing healing.
That is what makes you an amazing human being and a warrior.

You were victimised.
Yes, a victim and that needs to be validated, so how awesome that you are now choosing healing.

You are choosing to survive abuse and traumatic experiences that you had no choice but to survive.

Keep choosing you and today, allow me to tell you that you are worth choosing you.

You are enough.

72 likes, 15 comments. “Childhood Trauma steals our very identity as well as innocence, freedom, inner peace and individuality. Its robs us of our voice, of hope, of dreams and the ability to believe in ourselves enough to set goals. Childhood Trauma effects our emotions, feelings, memories and le...