One-to-One Counselling

Protected time and space…for you.

Personal counselling sessions provide safe space for your heart and mind. We engage in meaningful conversations in an atmosphere of respect to support your desired changes.

You can bring all of who you are and all of what you are carrying.

Your laughter and tears are welcome. Your strengths will be appreciated and vulnerabilities held with compassion.

As we honour what is arising for you, we trust new perspectives will come, healing will occur and a way forward will become clearer for you.

Counselling offers opportunities to strengthen our identity, make sense of painful experiences and to have healthier, more meaningful relationships - with ourselves and with others.

Raewyn Higgins

Why do people seek out a counsellor?

There are as many reasons for seeking out a counselling relationship as there are individuals. That said, below are some common reasons that can prompt people to seek counselling support:

Significant loss and grief (e.g., death of a loved one, end of a relationship).
Distress in personal relationships (family, friendships, workplace dynamics).
Challenges in educational environments (academic stress, peer relationships).
Major life changes prompting reevaluation of personal identity or goals.
Experiences of anxiety and emotional upheaval or mood fluctuations.
Mismatch between current experiences and desired life circumstances.
Struggles with communication and engagement in meaningful conversations.
Feelings of emotional withdrawal, overwhelm, or fatigue affecting enthusiasm for life.

How can counselling support your healing and growth?

All of you is welcome here

Whatever brings you into counselling, I believe that no situation is ever ‘same – same’. You and your story deserve unique understanding and support. Your questions and hopes will be met with deep listening and support. We will prioritise our work together according to what matters most to you. Your faith and spirituality will be honoured if you bring them into the counselling relationship.

I consider it a deep privilege to collaborate with you in your healing and growing journey.

Trauma-informed care

I use a variety of counselling modalities including focusing, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), narrative therapy etc. My practice is trauma-informed and mindful of the way our brain and nervous-system respond to life experiences that overwhelm us.

Creativity is sometimes invited through Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT). The simple expression of feelings or experiences onto paper with crayons can unlock healing insights in a gentle and playful way. No artistic ability needed!

The healing power of beauty

Flowers from my garden often grace the space we meet in for our counselling conversations. Beauty holds tangible antidotes to the distress caused through “over-loading” life experiences.

A trauma-informed understanding alerts us to the need for intentional sensory soothing through our five senses, which also invites calmer, more self-supporting thoughts and perspective. Beauty and creativity in the counselling space support you into a more grounded and attuned nervous-system state.

I deeply appreciate that my faith and spirituality are welcomed and respected in our sessions. It is rare to find such a sacred space where all parts of who I am can coexist without judgment.

Fleur

How does counselling help?

Counselling provides you with privacy and structure with a trusted professional.
You may feel relief in a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share your thoughts openly with someone outside your situation.
Talking helps you gain insights and recognise what matters most in your life, connecting you to your values and hopes for change in areas such as family, work, and relationships.
Respectful conversations allow you to check in, reflect, and summarise your experiences, assisting you in finding meaning and clarity in your thoughts and feelings.
Emotional vulnerability and tears may arise during this process. Tears are welcome and tenderly held. Distress can be explored with support, focusing on your personal strengths and resilience.
Understanding trauma and its effects, including stress and anxiety, is crucial for your healing. My trauma-informed approach begins with attentive listening, helping you clarify your situation while promoting meaningful self-care practices.

Practical Questions & Answers

I graduated with a Bachelor of Counselling from Bethlehem Tertiary Institute in 2010. I’m a Professional Member of NZCCA.

I have 14 years experience as a qualified counsellor in a range of contexts including:
- Private Counselling Practice
- Secondary School Counselling
- Loss and Bereavement Counselling
- Grief and Loss groupwork with children and adolescents
- As a Focusing practitioner.
I offer in-person counselling sessions in two places:

1. At Bethlehem Psychological Services – 36 Sutherland Road, Brookfield, Tauranga
2. At my home-based counselling space in Bethlehem, Tauranga.
I also offer sessions via Zoom.
A counselling session is one hour. I typically meet with couples weekly or fortnightly for three to six sessions. However, this can be extended to meet your needs and we can discuss this together.
 $135 – Individual Counselling Session
 $150 – Couples Counselling Session