Hi,
I’m Anne!
I help parents and carers look beyond their child’s behaviour, become curious about what their baby or child may be communicating, and develop a deeper, more meaningful connection through understanding, compassion and presence.
Because when we understand the story behind the behaviour, connection begins to change.
“Our babies don’t come with an instruction manual — we’re all learning on the job! So let’s make the most of this wonderful opportunity to understand, connect and grow together.”
Anne Matthews
It’s not the destination, it’s the journey
1982 — Inspired by obstetrician Frédérick Leboyer’s Birth Without Violence, I graduated in Physiotherapy in Belfast. Even then, I was becoming curious about how our earliest experiences might matter.
1986 — Graduated from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth, beginning what would become decades of working with babies, children and families.
1988 — Founded Belfast Chiropractic Clinic & Complementary Therapies, where I continued to work and learn for almost four decades.
1992 — Became the first mother to use a birthing pool in a Northern Ireland hospital — the beginning of my own very personal experiences of questioning how we approach birth.
1994 — Experienced the stillbirth of my baby boy at 28 weeks — an experience that became part of my own understanding of pregnancy, birth, loss and the importance of compassionate care.
1995 — Transferred hospitals during the night by ambulance so that I could have the opportunity to labour and give birth using a birthing pool.
1996 — Welcomed my daughter through a water birth.
2002 onwards — Further training in Cranio-Sacral Therapy deepened my understanding of gentle touch, the body and the importance of listening rather than imposing.
2006 onwards — Continued intensive study and experiential training in Pre- and Perinatal Education, early experiences, trauma-aware approaches and therapeutic work with babies, children and parents.
2023 — Published my book, What is My Child Telling Me, That I’m Not Getting… Yet?, bringing together many of the insights and experiences gathered throughout my personal and professional journey.
2026 — Created the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™ — bringing together decades of learning into an approach centred on curiosity, understanding, compassion and connection.
And the journey continues…
Each of these experiences — professional and deeply personal — has shaped the way I understand babies, children and parents today, and continues to influence the work I share with families and practitioners.
See the cue. Hear the story. Make the connection.
At the Heart of Wholesomely Connected
Curiosity:
We look beyond behaviour and ask what a baby or child may be communicating through their cues, responses and experiences.
Compassion:
We meet babies, children, parents and caregivers with empathy, respect and without judgement.
Connection:
We believe meaningful connection grows when we slow down, listen, become present and seek to understand before trying to correct.
Integrity:
We are committed to sharing thoughtful, responsible information while being open about the evolving understanding of early development and experience.
Education:
We give parents, caregivers and professionals practical ways to deepen their understanding of children — and of their own responses within those relationships.
See the cue. Hear the story. Make the connection.
Understanding the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™
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See the Cue
Babies communicate long before they have words. Their movements, expressions, responses and patterns of behaviour can give us valuable clues about how they are experiencing themselves and the world around them.
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Hear the Story
A child’s story begins before birth. Experiences during pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period form part of their developing story. Rather than assuming what a particular behaviour means, we become curious about the experiences and needs that may sit behind it.
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Make the Connection
Understanding the cue is only the beginning. The Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™ encourages us to pause, become present, notice our own responses and meet the child with curiosity, compassion and connection.
“Almost 40 years of working with babies, children and families has taught me this: when we stop trying to fix the behaviour and become curious about the story behind it, something changes. We begin to understand — and that’s where connection begins.”
Anne Matthews
Watch the Book Interview
In this 29-minute conversation, I share the story behind What is My Child Telling Me, That I’m Not Getting… Yet? — what inspired me to write it, the experiences that shaped my thinking, and why I believe becoming curious about the story behind a child’s behaviour can transform the way we understand and connect with them.
It’s also an opportunity to get to know a little more about me, my journey and the ideas that
ultimately led to the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
FAQs
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Anne’s professional journey spans almost 40 years of working with babies, children and families.
Her original degree was in Physiotherapy, followed by a Doctor of Chiropractic qualification from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic. Over the years, she continued her studies in biomechanics, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, child development, neurodevelopment and Pre- and Perinatal Education, alongside extensive experiential and trauma-aware learning.
Today, Anne brings that breadth of professional and personal experience into her work as an Author • Educator • Mentor and as Creator of the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
Her work explores how early experiences, Baby Body Language, parental awareness and compassionate curiosity can help us look beyond behaviour and develop a deeper understanding of babies and children.
See the cue. Hear the story. Make the connection.
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Anne is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while her educational work through Wholesomely Connected reaches parents, caregivers and professionals much further afield.
She is currently focusing on her work as an Author • Educator • Mentor, developing the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™, her courses, writing and educational resources.
After almost 40 years of hands-on practice, Anne is taking some time away from regular clinic work as she moves into the next chapter of her professional life.
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Does Anne offer online courses?
Yes. Anne has developed online courses for parents and practitioners who want to look beyond behaviour and better understand what a baby or child may be communicating.
Her signature course, Decoding Your Child’s Body Language, brings together decades of professional experience with the principles of the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™, encouraging greater curiosity, understanding and connection.
The courses are designed to be explored in your own time, with space to pause, reflect and return to the learning as your understanding deepens.
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Yes. Anne speaks to parents, practitioners, educators and professional groups, sharing insights drawn from decades of experience working with babies, children and families.
Her talks and workshops explore themes including early experiences, children’s behaviour and communication, nervous system regulation, therapeutic presence and the importance of looking beyond what we see to understand the story beneath.
At the heart of her speaking is the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™ — inviting audiences to See the cue. Hear the story. Make the connection.
If you’re interested in inviting Anne to speak at your event, organisation or professional group, please get in touch.s.
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Yes. Anne welcomes opportunities to connect and collaborate with individuals and organisations whose work shares a commitment to supporting babies, children, families and those who care for them.
This may include podcasts, interviews, guest articles, educational events, professional webinars, workshops and other opportunities to share ideas and encourage thoughtful conversations around early experiences, behaviour, connection and the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™.
If you have an idea for working together, Anne would be delighted to hear from you.
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Perhaps! There isn’t a second book planned just yet, but Anne continues to write, teach and develop new ways of sharing the ideas that have grown from her work with babies, children and families.
For now, much of that evolving work can be found through her courses, articles and the Wholesomely Connected Blueprint™ — with plenty more still to come.
You can join the mailing list to keep up with new resources, events and whatever Anne creates next.
Contact us.
Do you want to communicate better with your kids or have a question on how we can help