Darcey Steele, Counsellor/Therapist

I am a fifth generation Pākehā of of Celtic heritage. I was born in Waiharakeke/Blenheim, into an Air Force family and have lived in many places in both North and South Islands of Aotearoa, as well as Singapore. By the time I finished high school, I had attended eight schools. While it was quite disruptive, it also taught me invaluable skills such as adapting, connecting, and resilience.

As a young adult, I returned ‘home’ to Wellington and raised my own family, largely on the southcoast, my tūrangawaewae, for its rugged and dynamic energy.

While raising my two sons, I worked for an NGO in the mental health sector, supporting community educators to deliver a national programme to counter stigma and discrimination associated with mental distress, as well as many other projects. A unique and world-leading feature of the work was the principle of contact, people with lived experience educating their communities. I also ran many groups supporting people with their personal and professional development through this time. After a decade in this career, I returned to study, to become a counsellor.

As a counsellor, I facilitate holistic, therapeutic conversation and focus on creating and protecting a safe space based on humanistic principles. My experience includes mental/emotional health and wellbeing, neurodivergence, parenting, relationship dynamics (including family of origin, and family violence), alcohol and other drug issues, cultural awareness, systemic issues, and the the impact of these on our ability to live well. I also have knowledge and experience of district and family court proceedings, and processes of psychiatric/neurological diagnosis.

For strong life-force and healthy life-balance, I rely on chanting meditation, curiosity, reading, art and other creative projects, walking the coastline, hills and forests, delicious nutritious food, listening to an eclectic range of music, playing the piano, watching movies, binge-streaming shows, and connecting with people and animals.