Discover a safe, non-judgemental space to express, be heard, and explore and learn strategies you can take into your everyday life – where the real magic happens.
Extensive counselling and life skills experience
Empowering you to navigate life's challenges
I am a professional, qualified, extensively experienced counsellor and mediator, based on the North Shore, Auckland, offering in-person and online counselling to people of all ages, presenting with a variety of issues and challenges. I support individuals, couples, families and groups to navigate through challenging situations, and build nurturing relationships and personal growth.
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I have trained in a variety of counselling approaches and techniques and offer professional, understanding, acceptance, compassionate, respectful, a non-judgemental attitude, holistic and caring support when you need it most.
My counselling approach is based on working together with my clients to empower them to: navigate challenges in life, improve their relationships, upscale their communication skills, move forward from their conflict, loss or trauma, work through long-standing, old or current hurts, change behaviour patterns, and bring back true wellbeing (joy and vitality) to their lives.​​​​
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Twenty eight years lifestyle, wellbeing and stress management and prevention consultant, working with individuals, corporates, cancer patients and small groups.
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Nine years mediation experience, working with families and individuals.​
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Five years Lifeline telephone counsellor, working with many and varied issues, including mental health issues (anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, self-harming and more), relationship issues, work issues and family issues.​
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Thirteen years legal experience, working with individuals, companies and groups.​
Counselling Approaches
I use the following counselling therapies/approaches/techniques:
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Strengths-based counselling – drawing out clients’ strengths and skills so they can be supported to use these skills to heal their issues
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Person-centred counselling – the client as the authority of their own life, an equal and authentic person in their own right, being true to themselves, with the ability to understand the aspects of life that are causing them pain and therefore the capacity to find and implement solutions to their issues. No judgement from counsellor.
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Motivational counselling – a client-centred approach, i.e. change must come from the client. Counsellor gives support for client to come to an awareness that sparks change. So clients can be motivated to find their own answers to their problems. Includes reflection – what might be creating a barrier to , e.g. trust, moving forward, improving relationships
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Choices and consequences – including reality checking – e.g. what is holding you back from releasing past issues and moving forward? What is really going on in this situation? What behaviours of yours are contributing to the situation? What would be the consequences of each choice?
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Change model – developing awareness and understanding, in order to action changes in your life that you are ready, willing and able to change.
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Narrative therapy - helps you see your problems as separate from who you are, empowering you to re-write your stories and find alternative, more empowering narratives.
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Sessions are usually weekly to start with, but can be tailored to your needs, timetable and finances.
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Qualifications
Dip. Counselling, Evolve College, Brisbane.
LL.B (Hons), Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka)
IYTA (NZ) Inc. (Yoga) Teaching Dip.
Dip. Sports Sc. , UNITEC.
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Trauma yoga training.
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Five years’ experience as a Lifeline telephone counsellor.
Nine years’ experience as a mediator of family disputes working with families and individuals, and currently work in this area.
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Thirteen years legal experience – initially in general practice (including family law, criminal law, commercial and residential law), then for large firms practising financial, estate, residential (including relationship property disputes) and commercial property law.
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I have worked for 28 years with corporates, individuals and groups, including yoga students, prisoners and cancer patients. I continue this work.​​​​​
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FAQ
Do you offer online counselling?
Yes. I offer online Zoom sessions at various days and times that work for you. Book online here.
Can you help me to change some of my behaviours I do not like?
Yes, I can support with things such as: over-eating, losing your temper, insomnia, feeling stressed and overwhelmed all the time, anger or staying calm in tricky or stressful situations.
Can you support with problems with relationships at work?
Yes I offer support for relationships with work colleagues, employees, employers and bosses/managers.
What to expect in your first session
In your first session we will connect and build rapport and trust. We will assess your situation and explore what has brought you to the counselling session so I understand it correctly, in order to connect to what support will be best for you. Then we can define what exactly you need to work through. You will learn what to expect from counselling and what may be expected of you. You will be given ‘homework’ to do before your next session.
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The session and subsequent sessions are usually one hour long. There is some paperwork to complete before your first session, which will be emailed to you on booking.
How to book
I offer a free 15-minute introductory session, to work out what will support you. Call +64 (0) 22 1399 810