Counsellors

Areas of specialty

• Addictions
• Anxiety
• Blended families
• Couples therapy
• Depression
• Personal development
• Problem gambling
• Relationships
• Stress
• Transitions

Colin has extensive experience in dealing with a wide range of interpersonal and social issues, and has a strong inner desire to contribute to the welfare of others and empower them to develop and reach their full potential. He is a trained restorative justice facilitator and has worked with several other social service agencies in New Zealand.

Colin is a qualified counsellor, a registered member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and a registered Problem Gambling Practitioner with DAPAANZ.

Areas of specialty

• Maintaining work-life balance and managing life crossroads
• Mental health: anxiety, depression, stress
• Neurodivergence and autism
• Relationships
• Supervision
• Registered ACC trauma counsellor

Dee is a counsellor with more than 25 years' experience. She is currently working mainly via Zoom. She enjoys working with people of all ages, and working holistically and collaboratively with clients. Dee is a well known author, counsellor and public speaker on autism and neurodivergence.

Areas of specialty

• Anger management
• Anxiety and depression
• Grief and loss
• Relationships
• Trauma

Deryl has over 15 years' experience in counselling. With advanced counselling, you have the neutral space to be heard and seen with loving skillful support to discover your own natural resources and gain insights.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety and depression
• Emotion and stress
• Self, meaning, identity and purpose
• Family and relationship issues
• Grief and loss
• Problems with eating, sleeping and addictions
• Sexuality and issues of difference 
• Trauma

Graz has more than 35 years' experience in helping people find their own way through distress, problems and dysfunctions. She enjoys working together in ways that may suit you and your situation.

Areas of specialty

• Alcohol and other drugs
• Anxiety and depression
• Family relationships
• Grief and loss
• Stress management
• Workplace issues

Ian has supported families facing loss and grief, including managing the trauma of tragic and untimely deaths. His experience as a school counsellor included assisting students through family bereavement such as the loss of siblings, parents and friends. Having worked and lived overseas for many years, Ian has considerable life experience.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety and depression
• Couples counselling
• Grief and loss
• Relationships
• Spirituality
• Stress management
• Trauma

Primarily a person-centred counsellor, Joyce works with both male and female clients using a variety of modalities. Her work encompasses support to adults, the elderly and also children. Joyce enjoys working with couples and facilitating groups.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety and depression
• Career counselling
• Couples counselling
• Self-esteem
• Trauma

As a counsellor, Karen provides a confidential online counselling service via Skype, FaceTime or Zoom. She has an objective, professional and non-judgemental  perspective and can provide you with skills to cope with problems more effectively.

Karen is semi-retired and enjoys providing counselling via video conferencing to meet a niche for people with transportation, mobility and childcare issues - and also for individuals and couples.

Areas of specialty

• Addiction issues
• Anger management
• Anxiety and depression
• Grief and loss
• Sexual trauma

Kathy is an experienced counsellor and registered addictions practitioner with over 18 years' experience. Kathy is also a supervisor and facilitator who works with individuals, couples and young people.

Areas of specialty

• Child and teenage therapy
• Domestic violence
• Family Court counsellor
• Parenting

Lee works with individuals, teenagers, children and families using a variety of methods - narrative therapy, art therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Lee has also provided domestic violence programmes (protected persons and children).

Areas of specialty

• Addictions
• Mental health
• Relationships
• Trauma

Maureen has over 25 years experience as a clinical Social Worker in various settings in the UK and NZ Aotearoa

Areas of specialty

• Addictions
• Children & families
• Personal/work issues
• Professional supervision
• Relationship issues
• Trauma

Maxine has managed and delivered an EAP service for a number of years prior to working for Vitae.  She is an experienced clinician and supervisor who has worked in in a variety of settings working in a holistic and strength-based way.   Whether it be a relationship issue, a work issue or a family issue that you are facing Maxine is likely to have worked alongside others on similar issues. 

Maxine uses a raft of different models when working with people – not one model suits all.  Listening is crucial as is having knowledge of what resources can be useful.  She can access a number of models of counselling/supervision such as narrative theory, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), client-centred, task-focused, and active reflection.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety & depression
• Relationships
• Self-esteem
• Stress and anger management
• Supervision
• Trauma

Megan works from a strongly client-centered base and brings over 10 years' counselling experience with her. She provides a safe and non-judgemental space that allows you to explore the issues that you want to work through.

Areas of specialty

• AOD, addiction related issues
• Grief and loss
• LGBTQ+
• Major changes in life and transitions related stress
• Illness or injury challenges
• Relationship difficulties

Michael is a registered counsellor with over 20 years of experience working with adults from all walks of life dealing with a wide range of issues.  His approach is focused on building a caring and supportive relationship with my clients encouraging them to discover potential and recognize strength in themselves.  He strongly encourages and help you to achieve a balanced lifestyle, rational thoughts & high levels of self-care.  

Michael looks forward to getting to know you and working together to help you feel more relaxed, confident, acceptant about yourself, and enjoying a better quality of life.  

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety and depression
• Couples counselling
• Pain management
• PTSD
• Relationships

Nancy works with individuals, couples and groups, and has over 19 years' experience in counselling and providing clinical supervision. Nancy has trained in cognitive behavioural therapy, emotionally focused therapy and tapas acupressure technique from the new branch of energy psychology. These techniques provide fast and effective relief from many problems. Nancy's overall aim is to teach people how to acquire the skills to deal with their problems themselves, and to relieve lifelong suffering.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety and depression
• Coping with change and stress
• Grief and loss 
• Work-related issues

Ross has experience in using acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and solution-focused brief intervention to address stress, anxiety and depression. He also provides relationship coaching (not extended relationship counselling) using Gottman-based interventions.

Areas of specialty

• Drug and alcohol
• Relationship counselling
• Trauma counsellor
• Registered ACC counsellor

Sally's specialised skill is working with people who have experienced CSA trauma and are working through this process, linked in with ACC sensitive claims. The therapies Sally primarily uses are mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and narrative, along with acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused approaches collaboration with clients, agreeing on goals together.

Areas of specialty

• Grief and loss
• Kaitiakitanga/bicultural supervision
• Māori models of working and kaupapa Māori
• Relationships
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Self-care and work-life balance 
• Stress

Ko Ngā Puhi toku iwi, ko te Mahurihuri me te Ngati Hine oku hapu, Ko Sam Cassidy ahau. Samantha walks alongside tangata with their journey in healing and personal challenges. Her mahi is to awhi tangata/whānau in their journey to bring their hauora into balance. Samantha practices in a Māori worldview alongside our therapeutic models - which fits with the wairua of the tangata.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety
• Communication
• Relationships
• Youth

Sharon enjoys working with people of all ages. She has worked with children, young people, couples and families to address a variety of issues. These include the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of the individuals involved. She encourages the search for their own strengths; these are often hidden beneath the problems they may be facing. She uses a range of counselling methods including person-centred, narrative and cognitive, and she enjoys using the arts and creativity.

Areas of specialty

• Cross-culture relationships
• Integrative nutrition and health coaching
• Relationship
• Self-confidence, personal and professional and business development
• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Trauma and sexual abuse

No one likes to experience ill health in life - so holistic health is Sunday's service core value. When you explore the change in your daily life and transform on a deeper level, you will surprise yourself. Learning to gain a comprehensive understanding of oneself, both mentally and physically is attainable. Sunday uses solution focused therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, transactional analysis, and imago relationship and person-centered counselling.

Areas of specialty

• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Māori concepts of health
• Sexuality and gender
• Psychosynthesis

An experienced and professional counsellor and registered psychotherapist who understands life and work in rural communities and cities, Susan has a strong bicultural and multicultural focus with extensive experience in health-related issues and marginalisation.

Areas of specialty

• Anxiety and depression
• Children and young people
• Rainbow Youth
• Trauma

As a counsellor, Terri-lee works from a client centred approach where everyone deserves to be heard and treated with respect. The framework used is 'Te Whare Tapa Whā', where the focus is on increasing self-awareness through the metaphor of the four walls meeting house (wharenui). Each wall represents a part of oneself, and each wall influences the other. Taha whānau (our relationships) Taha Tinana (our physical wellbeing), Taha Hinengaro (emotional, mental wellbeing) and Taha Wairua (our spiritual beliefs or what uplifts us).