FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Counselling is as complex as it is simple. Simply, it is a space and a conversation. But, it is in this space and in the conversations that the complexity of risk, reflecting, telling, listening, stretching, pain and longing are co-navigated. The space is one where you are held without judgment and with empathy and respect. You should feel safe and listened to. In couples work, you should both feel as though your voice is heard and your counsellor is impartial and non-judgemental. If this is not the case you should discuss this with your counsellor and work together to create the space that holds your needs and helps facilitate your goals for therapy. An important part of counselling is confidentiality. This means what happens in the space, stays in the space. The only time this is broken is when what is shared tells the counsellor that you may be harmed or someone you know may be harmed in some way. It is our duty as counsellors to do no harm and getting more support for you so that you remain safe is part of that duty

You can send me a request via this website, leave me a message, or send me an email. I will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours to arrange a short phone call. It is important to have a brief conversation by phone to determine if I am the best person to meet your needs. If this is the case, we can arrange a first meeting for counselling.

I understand that the cost of counselling is a deep financial commitment. I honour you setting aside your financial resources for counselling. My fees for individual counselling are $120 for a 50 minute session. My fee for couples and family counselling is $160 for a 75 minute session. My fee includes our contact time, pre and post session preparation, personal indemnity insurance, admin and business expenses, ongoing personal development and supervision. 24 hours prior to your appointment a confirmation reminder will be sent, along with your invoice. Payment is due within 24 hours. Any cancellation must be made ahead of this reminder to avoid being invoiced for the session that has been held for you. Please contact me ASAP if their is an emergency on the day of your appointment. You may be eligible to recieve funding to help pay for counselling through WINZ, please check their page by clicking on the picture.

No two people will have the same need, and everyone will work through counselling at their own pace. Generally, once weekly sessions are the norm, both for individual counselling and for couples work. Research shows that slowing the pace of counselling can also lengthen the time required and increase the work that clients need to do. However, there may be times when it is clinically appropriate to see each other more or less frequently. I would always discuss this with you. A standard individual session is 50 minutes and a couples session is 75 minutes. ​ How long you stay in counselling will depend on many factors and we will plan and decide togethr how many sessions you will need. Typically, couples counselling requires a approximately 15-20 sessions. Individual counselling varies more than this and can be shorter or much longer depending on your needs.

Yes! I can see you online via Zoom from your location anywhere in New Zealand, and I even have clients from outside New Zealand. It is important that you feel you have access to a secure and confidential environment to use when we meet. That you will not be distracted, are free from interruptions and that you have a reliable wifi connection to use. The cost for zoom sessions is the same as seeing me in person.

I have tried to create a timetable that is as flexible as possible. However, there may be times that the only sessions I have available for you are during your work hours. Again, I honour the commitment and sacrifice you make to creating space to work and care for your wellbeing. Counselling appointments can be made during the following hours. Please contact me for availability, or go to the bookings tab where my calendar will be available when you hit the "request an appointment" button. For Individual counselling my hours are: Monday 1pm - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10.30am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8.30am - 1.30pm For couples counselling my hours are: Monday 1pm - 8pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10.30am - 8pm Thursday 8am - 8pm Friday 8.30am - 1.30pm

My office is located close to the heart of Silverdale on the Hibiscus Coast. I work from an office at my home which has a separate and private entrance. There is plenty of street parking and a wide access path down the side of the house to the office. Just follow the signs. If you can't easily get to Silverdale, contact me and we can arrange to meet via Zoom.

I understand that one of our deepest needs is for our authentic self to be seen and valued. My commitment is to listen to you and work to understand your needs, both the ones you know and the deeper ones that you carry due to your cultural upbringing. I endeavour to ask you what might be important to you that I need to know to hold the space for you in the room. Please feel assured that I will listen to your response. I am committed to the principles of the Te Tiriti O Waitangi and ensuring that partnership, protection and participation are hallmarks of my practice. I am also committed to affirming your spiritual and gender identity.

Please telephone or email to cancel at least 48 hours prior to scheduled appointment. All cancellations made within 24 hours (or 1 business day) of the appointment incur a $90 cancellation fee. If a cancellation is mode over the weekend (when the practice is closed) for a Monday appointment, is made on the same day, or an appointment is simply not attended and no notification is made, then the full fee for that session will be charged as there is no way to fill that booking. If you are unwell but would still like to have your appointment I can convert to online appointment with 24 hours notice (timing may change slightly). I am unable to extend appointments if you are running late due to the impact this has on other appointments.

The first appointment is an assessment session. I will ask questions to help understand what is going on for you currently, what in your past might be contributing to the issue, and what you would like to get out of the therapy process. The last few minutes of the appointment will be spent making a plan together. The therapy process starts from the second appointment.