• Christchurch Based •

Couples Counselling

 

About me…

  • I am in my Early forties.

  • My husband and I have been married for 18 years and have two teenage daughters.

  • For downtime I enjoy conversations with friends over wine, the odd night on a dance floor, walking my dachshunds and joining my husband on a mountain hunt.

  • Spiritually I was raised agnostically, and am currently unresolved and openminded to the mystery of what we’re all doing here.

  • I have personal experience of being in counselling, both individually and as a couple, so understand what it feels like to be sitting on the couch.

  • I have a Bachelor’s Degree specialising in Person-Centre Counselling, with post-grad training in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

  • I am a Provisional Member of the NZAC

My approach

I approach counselling from the theoretical basis that humans are hardwired for intimate bonding as our primary survival strategy. When we feel emotionally secure with another, our nervous system can be restored to balance, we develop a grounded sense of self, and from a secure base can venture out into the world.

Many of us however have not learned how to create and maintain a quality safe bond with loved ones where we can risk sharing our deepest vulnerabilities, ask for support and be there for others.

  • I specialise in increasing trust, communication, intimacy, sexual satisfaction and relational fulfilment.

  • I am passionate about expanding self awareness, in order to step out of entrenched habitual ways that keep you stuck, so you can begin to live life more freely and intentionally.

  • I approach counselling with warmth, humour, non-judgemental humility and an unflappable outlook. I understand personally the intricacies of relationships from having had to drag my own out of the ditch on numerous occasions.

  • I work experientially by facilitating emotionally corrective experiences within sessions that leads to lasting change.

Though my foundational modalities are Person-Centred Approach and Emotionally Focused Therapy, I am influenced by Depth Psychology, Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory and Existential Psychology.

Couples counselling

Relationships are complex. Life stages such as moving house, starting a family, grappling with infertility, parenting, financial concerns, losing a loved one, career changes and ageing require our relationships to constantly bear more weight. As uncertainty and stress heighten, it’s common for couples to fall into perpetual cycles of conflict and withdrawal that escalate over time, leaving both people feeling stuck, hopeless and alone.

I am passionate about supporting couples through these struggles.

I provide a warm, gentle space with clear structured boundaries in order to create safety for both partners, where together we can untangle defence mechanisms and coping strategies, uncover lurking hurts and longings and learn more effective ways of communication that fosters intimacy and fulfilling connection.

Individual counselling

Though I specialise in working with couples, there are many instances where individual counselling will be more effective than couples counselling.

I approach counselling with the understanding that we are our own experts, but sometimes we need a little help seeing all the pieces and putting them together. I work experientially, providing corrective emotional experiences within sessions in order to facilitate the emergence of feelings, thoughts and beliefs that may be currently hidden, while expanding your capacity for relational intimacy.

“Nothing human is alien to me”

— Terence

fees

Couple’s sessions:

$155 + gst per 70 minutes

$180 + gst per 90 minutes

Individual sessions:

$120 + gst per 60 minutes


*Please note cancellations within 48 hours will be charged fully

Location

Blackheath Complex
67 Durham Street South
(entrance and onsite carpark off Wordsworth street)
Sydenham

My room is nestled amongst a couple of family therapists, with a shared private waiting room.

Cancellation policy:  

Unlike many other practices,  I specialise in offering reliable, regular long term therapy.  This means I have a limited number of clients/couples on my books at one time that I am committed to in order to ensure I hold a regular time and that I am not overwhelmed with clients. I can only afford to provide you with this service if I have a stringent cancellation policy. 

The time scheduled and agreed to for your appointment is yours and yours alone.

  • For ALL appointments I require at least 7 days notice to prevent a fee from being due. 

  • Notice of Cancellation received between 7 days and 48 hours prior to your consultation will result in a 50% Cancellation fee being charged.

  • Notice of a cancellation received with less than two full days, will result in a 100% Cancellation fee being charged.

  • I work through school holidays, if sessions are difficult to attend due to childcare, please give me as much notice as possible. 

I do, however, understand the need for flexibility now and then when life events arise, please talk to me in advance if you need to find an alternative session time.