welcome
Welcome. Not as you should be. Just as you are.
Right here, right now, today.
We live in a world where there is no shortage of advice on how to live your best life. We're inundated with information from every angle on what we need to be happy, or well, or just better.
Yet despite the world at our fingertips we can still find ourselves stuck. Struggling either in our circumstances, our relationships or just in ourselves.
If you find yourself stuck, you are not alone.
Most of us are trained to solve problems on our own, to persevere through difficult times, or to dig deep and face challenges head-on. Yet often, what we also need is some solid support alongside our circumstances and to find our own wisdom, hope and healing.
If you are stuck and you need a new perspective; you have come to the right place. You can make a start on your journey today.
about me
My approach to therapy is based on practical real-life experience and a pragmatic style of listening without judgment.
I bring a holistic approach to my work with clients, this includes working with the mind, body, emotions, spirituality, family, and relationships. As a Registered Counsellor (NZAC) with Post Graduate qualifications, continual Professional Development and Supervision, I am committed to ethical best practice.
I am passionate about enabling people to walk through their own challenges with courage, knowledge and support.
My hope is for you to thrive in your own life again.
jo
qualifications
Registered Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)
PG Dip. Counselling Theory (Auckland University)
Bachelor of Counselling (B.Couns)
Supervision Certificate (NZ Psychological Society)
Te Whatu Ora Accredited (NZAC)
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems informed therapist (IFS)
Gottman Institute - Emotion Coach
Restorative Justice Facilitator (contracted to Ministry of Justice)
Living without Violence programme facilitator
Infidelity & Betrayal Trauma
Sex Therapy
Family Therapy
Interactive Drawing Therapy
Meditation & Mindfulness
Gallup Strengths Coach
relationship counselling
If you have been in a relationship for any length of time you will have experienced the highs and the lows, and everything in between. Because the reality is that all relationships have their challenges. Maintaining a healthy relationship is like maintaining anything else, it needs time, care, attention and investment. Relationships are precious, and if yours is under pressure then it might be time to seek some support.
Gain the tools you need to build a more fulfilling relationship. Whether you're experiencing difficulties right now or just want to be proactive in maintaining a strong connection. Together, we can work to strengthen your relationship and help you and your partner thrive.
tools for communication
Remember when communication with your partner was easy and effortless? It's common for that connection to fade over time, and it can be easy to blame our partner for the loss of connection. But the reality is that poor communication is often the culprit.
Instead of talking with each other, we end up talking at each other, and that's a recipe for disaster. Effective communication is a skill that can be learned. Even though the tools for communication are simple, they do require us to try something different.
If you're tired of feeling unheard and disconnected in your relationship, it's time to try something new. With the right tools and guidance, we can work together to improve your communication skills and find your way back to feeling loved and connected.
processing anger
We are not born angry. Anger is a powerful emotion that we learn, normally when we are young, to protect ourselves and express ourselves. We use anger to avoid pain, because it often feels better to be ‘angry and strong’ than to feel hurt or upset.
We don’t get angry about the things we don’t care about. So anger is often a pretty good indication that something important to us is not going well. The trouble is, anger does not help us. It destroys our relationships, our society and even ourselves. Getting free of anger is possible, it requires learning new ways to communicate and to let go of old ways that are not working. Make a decision for change today.
feeling the feelings
How do you feel about your feelings? Whether we like it or not, our feelings play a vital role in our wellbeing, our health, and our relationships. For some of us, our feelings seem to run the show and for others, we have never even given our emotions a moments attention. We might even be a little afraid of what might happen if we even dared to engage with our emotions.
In therapy we learn to work with our emotions, instead of pushing against them. By giving ourselves permission to truly experience our emotions, all of them, we can dramatically improve the quality of our lives and our relationships. Let's talk.
grief, loss & sadness
Grief is a healthy response to a painful reality. It is not an enemy or a sign of weakness, but a sign of being human. We cannot simply 'get over it', rather it takes time to grieve in your own unique way.
Times of grief might be confusing and overwhelming ... you may feel isolated and be facing a range of emotions you’ve never encountered before. I encourage you to journey through grief with a trusted therapist, let's talk ...
break-up recovery
When a relationship ends it feels like our world is ending with it. Our intimate partner, the person we trusted for closeness and comfort, is now the source of our pain and distress. When our heart breaks into a million pieces and our mind is overwhelmed with questions, we need the support of friends and family and a solid plan to get through the hard days and look ahead to the future.
Healing takes time and counselling is a safe place to start. You don't need to do this alone, start your healing journey today.
faith, church & spirituality
For some, church is a place of genuine growth, connection, and community. For others, it is a place of deep hurt, shame and isolation. It can be difficult, at times, to navigate our experience of faith with our experience of the church and people.
If you are stuck in a difficult place with your faith or your church; here is your invitation to embark on a deeper journey toward healing and transformation. Take the time to connect with your authentic self, to find true self-acceptance and to cultivate a spiritual practice that is less about proving that you are ‘good enough’ and more about simply being 'enough'.
stress, anxiety & resilience
When unexpected change comes along, how do you respond? Do you freeze up with fear or do you open your other hand to seize a new opportunity?
Change, whether it's a change of job, city, life stage or circumstance, can be uncomfortable and have us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, alone, angry or afraid. The good news is that we all have a huge natural supply of resilience. If stress and anxiety is getting in the way of you enjoying your life, let's talk ..
self esteem, identity & family
We didn't get to choose our parents, our families, or the way we were raised. Yet our family profoundly shapes who we are.
Navigating the transition between our family of origin and our adult identity can be challenging. Our family, whether we like it or not, affects the way we do relationships, manage our money, the career we choose, etc. If you feel stuck in your life or relationships, and you want to explore your unique identity, let's talk ...
strengths coaching
One of the most powerful insights you can have in your life is to discover your unique talents and strengths. We assume that everyone is just 'normal' like us when nothing could be further from the truth. Strength coaching is a process of discovering what is right about you, focusing on what is strong instead of what is wrong with you.
A strengths consultation will help you make sense of your personality, your role and your relationships. If you are wanting to find out your unique contribution to the world. let's get started.
strengths for teens
We encourage our kids to just "be yourself" but even for adults, it takes us decades to truly work that out. The teenage years are an intense time of self-discovery. The Strengths assessment is a powerful evidence-based process of revealing natural talent. By focusing on Strengths, we focus on what is ‘right’ with your young person which gives them language to see themselves with greater clarity and confidence.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the greatest gifts you could give your young person as they set out into their future. For a Strengths coaching session, let’s talk.
supervision (limited spaces)
Supervision is an essential element of professional practice for those working with people; be it in management, leadership, health, educational, pastoral and therapeutic settings. This unique relationship extends beyond our professional realm, weaving together work life and personal life, and everything in between.
The context we work/live in today is incredibly demanding so it's vital that Supervision is more than simply ‘ticking the box’ for professional practice, it has to provide a supportive, constructive and collaborative space for your personal growth, sustainability and professional development.
If you are looking for Supervision where you feel at home to discuss all aspects of your work and your life, please get in touch to see if working together is right for you.
* Limited spaces available for Inter-professional Supervision for those in management, people leadership, health, education, pastoral and therapeutic settings. (Please note, I am not currently taking interns).
"We can't thank you enough for helping us through our differences. We have the tools now to communicate better together".
"Thank you, thank you, thank you Jo for all you've done for us this year. You're a wonder. We wouldn't have made it without you!!"
"I was really worried about coming to counselling but you made it feel like a really easy conversation. It felt like you really understood but with no judgement".
urgent care
Counselling is only available with scheduled therapy sessions. Counselling is not an immediate response or urgent crisis service so if you need emergency support please contact your local GP or one of the below organisations.
1737 (text)
Mental Health Foundation helplines & support
Or in case of emergency dial 111 or go to your nearest hospital or emergency department.
