Luke van Helden

Counsellor in Auckland | Online & In-Person Sessions | NZAC Member

I offer a warm, collaborative space for reflection, understanding, and change. My approach draws from Narrative and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices, grounded in curiosity, empathy, and respect for each person’s unique story.

I work with adults and older adolescents on relationships, gender, sexuality, and life transitions, and welcome people from diverse cultural backgrounds and identities. With experience across community, university, and private settings, I aim to support clients in developing clarity, self-awareness, and practical ways of moving toward what matters most to them.

Based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland | Online & in-person appointments available

About Me

Kia ora, welcome. I’m glad you’re here. Seeking support takes courage, and finding the right fit with a therapist can make all the difference. My work is about creating a space where you can feel heard, understood, and supported as you explore what matters most to you.

Having spent nearly half my life in Aotearoa, I feel very much at home here. Kiwi culture, te ao Māori, and international perspectives are all familiar to me and shape the way I connect with others.

I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of North America, camping during the holidays with family. It’s a place where “high density” refers to the number of lakes and mountains, and where many outdoor camps are led by school counsellors. As a young person, some of the most supportive people in my life were therapists, and their care inspired my own path into this work. My family ties remain strong there and I do my best to reconnect however possible, including camping together.

After working as an educator in schools—first in the USA and then in New Zealand—I completed a Master of Counselling at the University of Waikato in 2010. Since then, I’ve worked with Relationship Services (Waikato), the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, Abuse Prevention Services (Rodney), and the University of Auckland Health and Counselling Services. I’ve maintained a small private practice since 2011 and have been fully self-employed since 2024.

Fostered by the community I grew up in, offering support to others has always been meaningful to me. I’m drawn to conversations about what matters most to people and enjoy helping clients discover what works best for them—both personally and in their relationships. My approach is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and respect for each person’s unique story.

How I Work

I see therapy as a collaborative and conversational process. Together we’ll explore your experiences, perspectives, and values to help you move toward what feels most meaningful.

My work is grounded in Narrative Therapy and trauma-informed, focusing on externalising problems and recognising the broader contexts that shape them. I often integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family and Relationship Therapy, and elements of Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing, and somatic approaches, depending on what’s most useful for you.

You can expect our sessions to be thoughtful and responsive. You might share what’s been happening or what you’d like to be different in your life. I’ll ask questions to help you gain clarity, and at times offer perspectives or ideas to consider. I’ll check in regularly to ensure our focus feels right for you.

What Therapy Can Offer

Therapy can be a space to slow down, notice what’s happening, and make sense of it. Speaking things aloud often brings clarity, while being heard and understood can be profoundly validating.

Our work might support you to:

• Understand and regulate thoughts and emotions
• Strengthen relationships and communication
• Make changes in alignment with your values
• Gain perspective and reconnect with what matters most

Sometimes therapy leads to clear change; other times it provides steadiness, understanding, and renewed compassion for yourself.

Areas of Focus

I work with adults and older adolescents and welcome clients from all backgrounds and identities.
Common areas of focus include:

• Relationship dynamics
• Gender identity and sexual expression
• Communication and conflict
• Stress, anxiety, and life transitions

I welcome people of all identities and relationship styles. Whether you’re queer or heterosexual, monogamous, open, poly, or part of a blended or chosen family, my aim is to provide a space that feels respectful, affirming, and safe. I bring a kink-aware and sex-positive approach to support open, honest conversations about intimacy and connection.

Things That Support Me (and My Work)

Much of what sustains my work also supports me personally—connection, movement, and time in nature.

I feel most content when I’m outdoors or moving in some way, especially in the bush, mountains, or sea. I love gardening—figuring out what’s tasty and easy to grow where I am—and working on creative projects around the house. I also enjoy preparing food and sharing meals with friends, reading fiction, playing music, practicing yoga, and exploring Ayurvedic practices.

As much as I value time with others, I also appreciate time alone. Being outdoors offers space to notice, learn, and gain perspective. Observing the changing seasons, animals, and landscapes is a reminder of patience, adaptability, and presence—qualities I bring to my work with clients.

Beginning Therapy

Let’s start with a brief phone call to introduce ourselves and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit. After our first session, I usually suggest committing to four to six sessions before reviewing progress. This gives time to notice what’s shifting and what feels most useful.

If we continue, we’ll adjust the pace and structure to suit your needs and goals.

Confidentiality:
Your privacy is deeply important to me. I adhere to the NZAC Code of Ethics and will keep what you share confidential. In a small country like Aotearoa, overlap sometimes occurs—if we have mutual acquaintances or meet in public, we can discuss what feels most comfortable for you.

Services Offered

• Individual Counselling
• Family and Relationship Therapy
• Professional Supervision
• Group Facilitation
• Workshops and Intensives

Contact

If you’d like to find out more or see if we’re a good fit, you’re welcome to get in touch to arrange a brief introductory phone call. This gives us both a chance to connect, discuss what you’re looking for, and answer any questions before scheduling a first session.