Hi, I’m Stephen Yao.
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 and discovery journey of clients' identity, strengths, and life's purposes.
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 18 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: 15+
Counselling Fees
(in-person or remote)
Our fees vary depending on the services provided. A standard 60-minute consultation for an individual is $125, and for a couple or family it's $145. An extended session of 75 minutes is available for a slightly higher fee. We accept EFTPOS or bank transfer; however, we do not have credit card facilities. The fee is payable on the day of the appointment.
Cancellation Policy
If you cannot attend your appointment for any reason, we require 24 hours' notice of cancellation. A $40 fee will be charged for late cancellation.
Please note that the fee will be charged to ensure our counsellors are compensated for their allocated time.
We kindly ask that you notify us as soon as possible if you need to reschedule, so we can offer the appointment to another client. Thank you for your understanding. Please cancel by telephone (09 576 4248), email, or respond to the SMS message.
Reminder Service
Email and Txt reminders are sent. Three and one working days before the counselling sessions. Please respond to the reminder asap if you cannot make your appointment.
Government Assistance
Work and Income
You may be eligible for subsidised counselling services through Work & Income, if you are already entitled to a benefit or if your income is under a certain level. We have the forms and can assist you with these.
Initiate Your Comprehensive Wellness Plan
Submit the brief inquiry form to discuss your needs and we will contact you for a face-to-face consultation.