Meet Our Counsellors

Kia ora, I grew up in Hong Kong and immigrated to New Zealand in 2000. In searching for a more meaningful and purposeful life, I changed from my IT and business development career to study counselling during my mid-life review and transition journey. 

I take a gentle and caring approach to explore the client's innerworld, potential developmental fracture underneath the client's facing challenges with the aim to foster healing and restore wholeness in relationship with client’s self, others, and the wider context of life. I was informed by various therapeutic approaches including mindfulness, internal family systems, attachment theory, ACT, IDT, Imago relationship therapy and the Satir model of transformation to guide my own and clients’ relational restoration journey. 

I am available to support those who speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin (not fluent) and have experience in working with diverse ethnic communities from NZ European/ Pākehā, and Māori, Pacific Islanders, and Asians in culturally sensitive ways. I am married with three adult children.

Ages: Individual and couples from 16 year+

Specialties: Relationship issues, anxiety, depression, anger, grief and loss, and mid-life review and transition.

Languages: English, Cantonese and Mandarin

Qualifications: B. of Counselling, B. of Computer Science, MNZAC

Years in practice: 13+

I chose to become a counsellor so I could draw alongside people during difficult times of life. Little did I realise, the training I received would help me through some challenges myself. I consider it a privilege to join your journey; to empower you in making effective decisions enabling gains in life, work, and relationships.

I am married, have raised children, and welcomed grandchildren into the family. Previously, I have worked as a manager in corporate and small businesses and ran my own business.

I use different approaches and tools to meet the need of each person. These include Person Centred, CBT, TA, IDT, ACT, EFT, IFS, Narrative, Mindfulness, Solution Focused, Toolbox Parenting, and Critical Incident

Specialties: General Counselling, Supervision, Anger, Anxiety, Business Stress, Child and Family, Depression, Grief and Loss, Couple Counselling, Migration Issues, Parenting, Stress Management, Self- Esteem and Workplace Issues.

Other: Corporate and small business management and IT background. Facilitates Toolbox Parenting and Marriage Courses

Ages: Adults

Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts, Diploma Counselling, MNZACC

Years in practice: 13+

Hello! Kia ora! I’m Frances.

I trained to be a counsellor so I could support people to find ways to manage the challenging things that come up in life. I thought counselling was for other people, not for me!  Only when I began my training and was required to have counselling myself did I discover how useful it can be. For many years I was involved in education and pastoral ministry in Fiji. I have wide experience of relating with people of different cultural and faith backgrounds.

I use different approaches and tools that best fit the needs of each person. These include Person Centred Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Interactive Drawing Therapy and Mindfulness. I am also a qualified Supervisor.

Specialties: General counselling, Supervision, trauma, abuse / violence, stress, grief, depression, issues with anger, confidence & self-esteem, faith journey and workplace issues.

Languages: English, Fiji Hindi

Ages: Adults of all ages, including the Elderly

Qualifications: BA Education, Masters in Pastoral Ministry, Family Ministry and Counselling, MNZAC and registered with ACC for Sensitive Claims

Years in practice: 22+

I work from a strongly client-centred base and brings over 13 years counselling experience.  I enjoy counselling people of all ages, ensuring that clients are supported to reach their goals. From this I am able to integrate elements from a number of other counselling approaches including Transactional Analysis (TA), Narrative and ACT integrated, Drawing, Writing and Sandtray Therapy.

I am able to relate well to people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. I am married to an Asian and has lived in a number of Asian countries. I am warm and sensitive in my approach while seeking to maintain a high standard of integrity and confidentiality in my counselling. Experienced in school age children and 65+.

Specialties: General counselling, Supervision, marriage relationships, changes & transitions, depression, baby loss, loss, grief, pregnancy, abortion, illness, disability, workplace issues, self-esteem, anxiety, cultural issues, migration and separation.

Ages: Adults

Qualifications: M Ed (Hons), Dip OT, NZAC

Years in practice: 13+

I am married and the mother of two teenage boys and have lived in East Auckland most of my life. I work with children, teenagers and adults to find new ways to look at the problem and to find solutions that will work for you. I have training and experience working with a wide range of cultures, including Māori, Pasifika and Asian cultures. I would love to work alongside you to address the issues you are facing and find a way forward. I work with a mix of approaches including Narrative therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Drawing therapy, Sandtray, Play therapy. Prior to training as a counsellor, I worked as a lawyer and in business.

Specialties: Trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, stress, abuse, family violence, addiction, grief, identity, anger, communication, suicide risk, self-harm.

Ages: Adults, children 5+ yrs

Qualifications: PG Dip Counselling, Dip Applied Theology, MNZAC, BA/LLB (Hons)

Years in practice: 6+

Kia Ora. I am a qualified and NZAC registered counsellor with 15 years’ experience working across a range of ages from teens to adults. I am experienced in working with people from a diverse range of cultures. Prior to training as a counsellor I worked in secondary education in a range of roles and have a background in the sciences.

As a counsellor my approach is based on person-centred therapy but integrating a range of other modalities and techniques including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, solution focused therapy and strength-based therapy. Effective counselling happens when there is a positive rapport between the counsellor and client; an approach that the client feels comfortable with; and identified clear goals. I always work hard to establish these with my clients.

Specialties: Addiction, anxiety, anger, depression, stress, self-esteem, grief and loss, relationships including couple therapy, teen issues, parenting teens, work related issues, existential issues.

Ages: Adults, children 11+ yrs

Qualifications: M Ed Counselling (Hons), MSc (Hons), Dip Teaching, PG Dip School Management, MNZAC

Years in practice: 15+

I am a qualified and registered counsellor with a wealth of life experiences, which provides me with an ability to work with a range of presenting issues, ages and diverse cultures.  My prior work experience has been within the education sector as well as corporate roles. I believe the most important component of counselling is building a therapeutic relationship with my client, so they feel comfortable sharing their story, in a genuine and empathetic environment. This then fosters a safe space to navigate the challenges and achieve personal growth. 

I use Person Centred/Pluralistic theories to guide my practice. 

Specialties: General Counselling, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, anger, workplace issues 

Ages: Adults, adolescents and children 9+ yrs

Qualifications: PG Dip in Counselling, BA Education, and Dip Teaching, MNZCC.

Years in practice: 2+

Please note that Leanne is currently not taking on new clients

Specialties: General Counselling, Family & Couples, Children and Teenagers, Trauma, Grief, Blended families, Boundaries, Migration, Sexuality, Coaching, Supervision, Faith/ Spirituality, Mediation with families, Workplace boundaries.

Modalities: PCT, CBT, Narrative, Ex High school teacher, pastor, coach, facilitated onsite workplace boundaries, parenting Toolbox courses, pre-marriage counselling, sexual abuse within the workplace.
Languages: English & Afrikaans.

Ages: Adults, adolescents and children 5+ yrs

Qualifications: BA Higher Dip Teaching, Dip Counselling, Grad Dip Theology, MNZAC
Years in practice: 13+

Specialties: General Counselling, Abuse, Spiritual, Emotional, Addiction, Eating Disorders, Grief & Loss, Stress, Adolescent, Anger Management, Anxiety, Build Resilience, Bullying, Workplace Issues, Child family Issues, Conflict resolution, Depression, Health, Chronic Illness, Life Coaching, PTSD, Self Esteem, Identity, Trauma, Pregnancy, Parenting, Women Issues, Migrant Issues.

Languages: English & Afrikaans.

Modalities: Multimodal Integrated, Person Centre, Narrative, Small figures, Sand Tray, Strength Based, Mindfulness, Tree of Life, CBT

Ages: Adults and couples

Qualifications: B. A., Dip, Tchg, B. Couns. TESOL Dip., MNZAC

Years in practice: 8+



My approach to life is holistic. I value attending carefully to the multiple dimensions of life – spiritual and whanau, psychological, social and physical, in order to survive, recover and thrive through life and its challenges. I hope that this philosophy is reflected in my counselling work, where I lean heavily on the person-centered approach and the Acceptance Commitment Therapy model, weaving in creative approaches such as Sandtray and others such as DBT or CBT where appropriate.

I draw on my own life journey and my professional experience to support clients through areas such as grief and loss, depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, anger, adolescent/parent issues and gender and sexual identity. I am most certainly an LGBTQ+ ally. I have worked extensively with teenagers and young adults and have plenty of experience with adults. My 8+ years of counselling experience follow a career in teaching.

I am husband to my wonderful wife Celia. I have an (almost) adult daughter and Celia and I share a terrific 3 ½ year old son and a spirited 1 ½ year old daughter. Parenting takes up plenty of my time and energy currently, and outside of work, my passions for the outdoors, food, learning, literature, and entertainment takes up the rest. These things – family, my passions and my faith sustain me through life’s trials and tribulations.

Modalities:  Person Centered and ACT, DBT, CBT and other creative approaches.

Ages: Adults, children 5+ yrs

Qualifications: PGDip Counselling, GradDipTeaching, BCom., MNZAC

Years in practice: 8+

Student Counsellor

Information coming soon