A Warm Welcome to my Profile Page

The process of finding a therapist with whom you feel sufficiently comfortable and understood in your needs can be a lengthy and also costly one. This Profile Page aims to briefly inform you about my professional background and approach, so that you may gain a sense of whether I can be of help to you.

Denise Hufer MA Dip Clin Psych
ph (021) 0258 2396
email  itransforme@gmail.com
www.denisehufer.co.nz

My Background

I grew up in South Africa and immigrated to Germany at the age of 15 years, where I later studied psychology at the University of Tuebingen/Germany. After obtaining my Diploma/Masters degree in 1998, I trained as a Psychological Psychotherapist. This training with ensuing state exam is mandatory for psychologists seeking to practice as a licensed psychologist/psychotherapist in Germany.  My experience as a Clinical Psychologist includes working in various psychosomatic and psychiatric hospitals in inpatient and day care settings. During this time I also worked in specialist services treating patients with Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, Psychosomatic Disorders, Trauma and Alcohol Addiction amongst others. I later worked in private practice.

The main focus of my training lay on behavioural and cognitive therapy, while integrating valuable components of psychodynamic, systemic and humanistic approaches. A six month internship at the Milton Erickson Institute in Rottweil enabled me to train as a Hypnotherapist. I am a qualified trauma counsellor, and have attended training in Ego States Therapy and various Body Mind approaches, including Energy Psychology, Focusing and Mindfulness. I continue to train in these and other modalities and have a strong interest in psychotherapy that utilises neuroscientific research findings.

In 2007 I immigrated to New Zealand, where I was employed as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Eating Disorders Service in Auckland, prior to setting up private practice in 2010. I am registered with the NZ Board of Psychologists and a member of the NZ Psychological Society and abide by their ethical guidelines.

I see clients for a variety of challenges including:

Eating Disorders, Trauma and Dissociation, Psychosomatic Symptoms, Anxiety and Mood Disorders, Life Transitions, Compassion Fatigue, Burn-Out and others not listed here.
I also offer Communication skills training for couples.

My Approach and Style of Practice

In my work I employ research and evidence based methods, complemented by alternative interventions whose effectiveness has been proven in preliminary studies. I aim at combining the strengths of behavioural and cognitive therapy with bodywork. This implies guiding clients to become deeply aware of their bodily sensations and movements as well as their emotions, images and thoughts during sessions. I favour interventions that are experience-oriented, utilising the power of humour, role plays, imagery, metaphors and stories to help facilitate insight and change (read an article about stories in therapy).

Every client is unique in their resources, in their needs and in their receptivity to different treatment approaches. I seek to work in collaboration with the client to find a pace, process and therapy style which works best for each person during the various stages of treatment. Strategies and interventions are discussed and made transparent in sessions, encouraging clients to become active participants in the shaping of their own therapy process.

My manner is straightforward, compassionate, creative and open-minded. I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental, supportive, and safe therapeutic environment in which unhelpful patterns may be challenged in a non-threatening way.

I practice at

Community House, 32 Clarence Street, Devonport, North Shore   » view map

Abelard House, 518 East Coast Rd, Mairangi Bay, North Shore   » view map

Community House St Lukes, 130 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland   » view map

Fees

The fee for individuals for a 50-60 minute session is $150. The fee for couples attending Communication Skills Training is $180 (sliding scale fees or WINZ subsidies may be available for low income earners or beneficiaries).

If you would like to know more about the therapy process and how I work, please feel free to contact me for an initial, obligation-free discussion. You can then gain a sense of how comfortable you are talking to me and I can determine how I might be of help to you.

Making an appointment

Sessions are by appointment only. Please phone or text me directly on my mobile number (021) 0258 2396. Your call will often be responded to by mail box so please leave a message with your contact details. I am also available after hours and on Saturdays by negotiation.

Thank You for Your Interest

"If you just set people in motion, they will heal themselves"
Gabrielle Roth

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