Russell Vant

Counselling usually focuses on specific issues and practical changes in the short to medium term.

Psychotherapy is typically longer-term and depth-oriented, exploring the underlying patterns, emotions, and relational themes that shape your life.

I offer both, depending on what you’re looking for.

Some of the most common themes people bring are:

Self-criticism and perfectionism

Anxiety, stress, and overthinking

Relationship and intimacy difficulties

Life transitions and questions of belonging (including expat experiences)

Loneliness, low mood, anger, or a general sense that ‘something’s not right’

The impact of past trauma, loss, or difficult childhood experiences

Curiosity about personal growth

Sessions are held securely on Zoom. You’ll receive a private link in advance and simply click to join from a quiet, private space. Sessions are 50 minutes long and usually take place weekly. Confidentiality is taken seriously, just as it would be in an in-person setting.

‘Depth-oriented’ means we don’t just manage surface symptoms - we explore the underlying patterns, emotions, and relational themes that shape your life.

My work sits in the lineage of psychoanalysis and Jungian analytic psychology, and includes developments such as Person-Centred (Rogers), Gestalt (Perls), body psychotherapies (e.g. Bioenergetics, Somatic Experiencing), and more recent formulations like EMDR, Schema Therapy, and IFS. Different words, same core aim: lasting change through deeper understanding and integration.

I don’t offer CBT. While some people find it helpful for short-term skills and coping, my focus is on longer-term change that comes from working with what’s underneath.

‘Relational’ means the quality of our relationship is central to the work.

Counselling: I bring a mature, attentive, and empathic attitude so you feel safe, supported, appropriately challenged, and understood. That foundation lets useful work happen.

Psychotherapy: All of the above - and we give particular attention to what happens between us. Many symptoms and life patterns grow out of earlier relational disruptions. In relational psychotherapy, we notice how those patterns may appear here and now in our work together, and we explore them safely and respectfully so new ways of relating can emerge.

Yes. I offer a free 20-minute introductory phone or Zoom call. This is a chance to ask any questions, talk through what brings you to counselling or psychotherapy, and see whether we’d be a good fit.

My standard fee is NZ$125 per 50-minute appointment. Payment is made by bank transfer or via the Wise payment app. For more details, please see the Fees page of my private practice website at https://www.psychotherapyworks.org/fees

Normally we start meeting weekly. Some people move to fortnightly after an initial period - some move to twice weekly. The choice between shorter-term, solution-focused work and longer-term, depth-oriented work depends on your goals - we’ll decide together.

I’m currently based in France and work from a private home office, offering online appointments securely via Zoom.

Yes. I work within professional and ethical standards (BACP/NZAC). There are standard legal exceptions to confidentiality (in cases of significant and imminent risk of harm to self or others), which we’ll discuss at the outset.

No. I’m not able to provide crisis or emergency support. If you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency or crisis response service.