You’re here because you want to transform.
You want to be happy and live free from fear, uncertainty, stress, anxiety and depression. You don’t want to suffer anymore. You want a new way of living that is energising and fulfilling. You want to let go of what is holding you back and be your most authentic and compassionate self. It takes tremendous courage to let go of the past and imagine a different future for yourself. So, who am I and how can I help?
Hey! My name is Ben Burggraaf and I hold a Master’s in Counselling.
I believe mental heath is wealth. My job is to help you take back your control. In counselling, you’ll talk and I’ll patiently listen with compassion. Together, we’ll explore what’s causing your problems and you’ll learn new tools to overcome them. Your energy and confidence will grow, and anxiety and depression will shrink.
My clients tell me I am warm, welcoming, and easy to talk to.
I’m confident in helping you find relief from anxiety, depression, “self-sabotaging” behaviours, and low self-worth. If I sound like the sort of person you can see yourself talking to, then feel free to email me at [email protected] or visit www.chatwithben.co.nz. Together, change is possible.
FAQs
Accreditations
- Masters in Counselling (University of Waikato)
- Member Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association (ANZMH)
- Provisional Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (ProvMNZAC)
- Psychology Today Verified Counsellor
- Member New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology (NZAPP)
- Counsellor for I Am Hope (Gumboot Friday)
- Bachelor of Management Studies (Marketing Major BMS, Chairman’s Award Top Marketing Student)
How does counselling work?
It starts with a simple phone call, a no-cost appointment, and a conversation. If the fit is good we’ll set a time to talk either online or in person.
In a counselling session we’ll sit across from each other. You will talk and I will patiently listen with empathy and compassion. Together, we’ll identify harmful thought and behaviour patterns. I will help you understand your lived experiences, thoughts, feelings, behaviours, beliefs and values. As we move through counselling, we’ll explore your past, present, and future, your hopes and dreams, as well as your fears and regrets.
Then, we’ll address strategies to help you regulate and control your thoughts and behaviours. Instead of fixating on your faults, you will learn how to be compassionate with yourself. You’ll learn how to be your most authentic self.
Expect to experience and begin to identify new feelings and emotions. At times, I will ask you to challenge the beliefs that do not serve you. The trust that we have established and your willingness to be open will allow transformative work to occur. You will be able to set clear wellbeing goals for yourself and construct a plan to achieve them.
How is my approach different?
Too often, clinicians will use a medical model that focuses on altering people’s behaviour without fully understanding what makes them who they are.
My approach is to take a whole-picture and whole-person approach. I will help you understand your lived experiences, thoughts, feelings, behaviours, values and beliefs that have shaped who you are.
That way, we can then create a tailored and personalised approach that fits your unique strengths, values and preferences instead of looking to fit you into a box.
I draw from Narrative Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and mindfulness based approaches.
Fees and working hours
- Appointments are 55-minutes and fees are $140 for individuals.
- Working hours: 10am – 4:30pm Monday to Thursday.
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Get Directions
50B Campbell Road, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
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https://www.chatwithben.co.nz/
May, 2025
Friday
August 26,2019
- Tuesday
- 9:00am - 10:00am
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