Empowering and collaborative approach to individual and relationship counselling
We're in this together!
An empowering approach helps in everyday life
We focus on helping you confidently navigate your life and decisions.
Our collaborative approach begins in our session space
I value your perspectives, experiences, and preferences.
We build on your strengths to achieve the goals you set, ensuring these are both realistic and meaningful to you.
Simple principles during our time together
You're the hero of every counselling session
Heroes embody courage and strength, traits that others admire. I believe in your courage to explore new ways of tackling your challenges. And I also admire your openness to guidance and your willingness to learn and move forward. Every session is all about you, individually and jointly!
You are the expert of your own life
You bring a wealth of experience unique to you – your journey, your relationships, and your beliefs are all deeply personal.
Before coming to our individual or relationship counselling sessions, you know what paths and strategies you have explored. If amidst this, some invaluable resources, strengths or values have been overlooked or misunderstood, we’ll work together to rediscover them.
You be yourself
I genuinely believe you are unique, with your own experiences, perspectives, and needs. And for that reason, you deserve personalised care so we can work with your true self.
If my approach feels right for you, we’ll continue to work that way. If not, your feedback is invaluable to ensure our sessions continue in a way that suits you.
We're focused, mostly conversationally
Although most sessions are conversation-based, you are welcome to incorporate drawing, poetry, or writing into our discussions. Whatever works best for you on the day is worth trying. In relationship counselling, our collaboration of what works takes into account all clients in the session.
I use my expertise to help you with your changing needs
Life is complex, and your needs may change during our sessions. So, I work closely with you (both in relationship counselling) to stay attuned to what will help most at the moment.
As your needs change so might my role. I may shift between being a guide, a teacher, a resource provider, or someone who simply listens deeply to you.
We celebrate your moments of growth and healing
An ideal outcome for you in our counselling is to discover new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that resonate with you and lead to lasting change. Then, together, we celebrate the moments when you see your world differently.
So, whether your insights happen in small steps or giant leaps, we value that they all contribute to your growth and healing.
Drawing on counselling theory in my practice
Basing my counselling work on sound theory is crucial
At the heart of our approach is your choice
However, if you’re curious about the details, the choice is yours—including now feeling free to explore more detail below. I have included detail on the pluralistic approach to counselling, and my specific research and methods.
Getting to the detail on counselling theory in my practice
Trained as a pluralistic counsellor
I feel very fortunate to be trained (by the University of Auckland) as a pluralistic practitioner, as this fits well with my values – See My Story.
The video gives a simple explanation of pluralistic practice, founded by professors John McLeod and Mick Cooper.
Details of my practice for those interested
I call on any theory that fits your situation, and I use modalities and techniques flexibly, and to the extent that you feel you are making progress.
These two lists are not exhaustive— simply to help you appreciate the wide range of materials I use. If you mention a theory or technique that seems unfamiliar to me, I am more than willing to research it before our next session.
- Abnormal psychology
- Business and personal change
- Child and adult psychology
- Cultural issues
- Ethics in practice
- Family therapy
- Leadership
- Learning and development
- Loneliness
- Pluralistic and integrative counselling and psychotherapy
- Sociology
- Trauma and complicated grief
- ADKAR change model
- Adult learning principles
- Attachment theory
- Bowenian family systems theory
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Complicated grief treatment
- Developmental psychology models
- Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
- Genograms
- Gottman method for couples therapy
- Internal family systems theory (IFS)
- Judith Herman’s three-stage model of trauma and recovery
- Maslow’s hierarchy
- Narrative therapy
- Person-centered therapy
- Prochaska’s stages of change model
- Situational leadership
- Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
- Te whare tapa whā model
- Tihei-wa Mauri ora
- Transformational leadership
Acknowledgement and Resources
The concept of you being a hero in counselling
This comes from McLeod, J. (2018). Pluralistic Therapy Distinctive Features.
Resources on pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy
An easy-to-read book is Cooper, M., & McLeod, J. (2011). Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy.
More detail of John McLeod and Mick Cooper’s theory can be found at Pluralistic Practice – Celebrating diversity in therapy.
Ready to collaborate? Join me and start your journey towards empowerment.
Book one of these sessions
A reminder, you can get personal, professional and relationship counselling support from me as an individual, a couple, within a family or any other relationship.
- An individual in-person
- An individual using video online
- A joint relationship in-person
- A joint relationship using video online.
What if you are having a crisis?
If you’re going through a crisis and your life, or someone else’s, is in danger, it’s crucial not to postpone seeking help until our first appointment. First, contact 111 or a crisis helpline immediately. Then, you can follow up with me.