Anna Friis, PhD, is a health psychologist and certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher in private practice in Auckland, New Zealand. Her work sits at the intersection of science and lived experience, integrating the psychology of mind-body connection with mindfulness and compassion-based approaches. She supports people experiencing the effects of stress, trauma, and emotional overwhelm on their health, work, and relationships.

​

Anna completed a Master’s degree exploring the effects of stress and meditation on the autonomic nervous system, before going on to complete a PhD examining the role of mindful self-compassion in promoting both mental and physical health.

​

Anna’s approach is deeply attuned, relational, and grounded in the science of mindfulness and self-compassion.She creates a space where you can slow down, feel safe enough to be real, and begin to understand what is happening beneath the surface.

​​

Anna is a member of the international Center for Mindful Self-Compassion teaching team and teaches mindfulness and self-compassion programmes across New Zealand, Australia, and internationally.

 

She is deeply committed to training and mentoring the next generation of compassion-informed psychologists and MSC teachers, supporting them to bring both scientific understanding and embodied presence into their work.

​