A little bit about me.
I can provide a safe, warm, non-judgmental, and supportive environment for clients to work through the difficulties they are facing. I have been working in counselling in Christchurch and Dunedin for ten years, and as a counselling educator for seven years. My experience also includes creating and running workshops and multidisciplinary supervision.
I have experience in working with clients who are neurodiverse including those with Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, learning challenges, and anyone who feels they “don’t quite fit” in life.
My private practice includes general counselling for individuals of all ages, ACC sexual abuse counselling, work-place counselling (EAP), and supervision.
Supervision experience includes clients from counselling, nursing, and counselling trainees working towards their degree, peer supervision, and group supervision. I also support graduate counsellors towards their membership of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.
As a counselling educator in both Christchurch and Dunedin, I enjoyed teaching counselling students in all year levels of their degree. Areas of experience/topics include Person-Centred therapy, life-span human development, contextual issues, facilitating group process, placement practicum, supervision, Attachment Theory, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and creative therapies.
My experience also includes managing a counselling agency with counselling students doing their practicum, and counselling co-ordinator for a youth-based counselling service.
My Philosophy
My approach is based on focusing on the therapeutic relationship, to build trust and safety from which you can explore what troubles you at a pace that suits your needs. I work from a strong Person-Centred (PC) foundation based on Carl Rogers’ humanistic approach to therapy. This approach puts you at the centre and believes that you hold the answers you need to solve your dilemmas, even if you have forgotten, or simply cannot see your way forward. With guidance, we can explore what blocks are impacting on your wellbeing or stopping you from fulfilling your potential.
From this foundation, I draw upon a variety of lenses and interventions, such as:
- Attachment Theory,
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT),
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT),
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT),
- Creative therapies
- Play therapy
I integrate these as appropriate to meet your needs. It is important to me that you feel in control of your therapy, and that I work in a manner that suits your way of learning.