Andrew Di Benedetto

Focusing on the most important person in your life — you

Therapy, for me, is about slowing down enough to notice what’s really going on inside you. Whether you’re dealing with anger, grief, relationship struggles, or simply wanting to understand yourself better, I offer a space where you can exhale — a space to be honest, curious, and real.

About Me

Born and raised in Boston, I moved to New Zealand in 2015 and have called it home ever since. Drawn by a desire to travel, explore, and teach yoga, I soon realised I wanted to build on that work and develop a deeper understanding of people and change. In 2016 I began my Master’s Degree in Applied Social Work at Massey University, completing my placement in an intensive inpatient drug and alcohol therapeutic community. I went on to work there from 2018 to 2024, supporting individuals through some of the most transformative periods of their lives.

Throughout my own process of growth, I’ve often carried a sense of feeling different. Engaging in my own therapy has been essential in understanding and reshaping that narrative. My training in social work, years of working alongside people navigating addiction, and my continued personal work have reinforced one truth: we don’t grow in isolation. Developing a relationship with ourselves and others is fundamental to lasting change and growth.

Today, my work is grounded, relational, and caring — focused on helping others untangle the old scripts that may be holding them back, and reminding them they don’t have to face their pain alone.

My Approach

First and foremost, my aim is to meet you where you’re at. I believe the most meaningful work happens when there’s space to be real and a relationship built on trust. From there, we can find the pace and approach that best support you.

I help you explore your inner world — your thoughts, emotions, and patterns, both conscious and unconscious — and how these shape the way you move through relationships and the world around you.

I’m a deep listener and often focus on what sits between the lines, including what’s not being said. At times, I work with internal imagery — the pictures, feelings, and sensations that live inside you — to help make sense of complex, sometimes chaotic thoughts in ways that feel clear and manageable. I believe a little humour and honesty can help too; gently naming what’s unspoken often opens the way for real change.

Above all, I value the relationship between us. It’s through that connection that we can begin to understand how your past experiences shape your present, and develop the insight and tools to move forward with greater clarity, self-awareness, and the sense that someone truly believes in your ability to do it.

How I Work

• Psychodynamic and Transactional Analysis (TA) approaches to explore how your past experiences influence your present patterns and relationships
• Relational focus, paying attention to what happens between us to understand how you connect, protect, and express yourself in the world
• Attachment-based work, exploring how your attachment style shows up in relationships and daily life
• DBT-informed skills to support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness
• Short- and long-term therapy available for adults

Areas of Focus

• Anger, grief, and relationship challenges
• Navigating substance use and recovery
• Creating a safe, affirming space for people in the rainbow community
• Working through stuckness, self-doubt, and life transitions

If you’d like to explore whether we might work well together, feel free to get in touch for a brief chat or to book an initial session.