Maddy Kear

Life can be difficult at times, so having someone alongside you to support you in making change can make all the difference. If you want support to make positive changes to areas of your life that are currently causing you pain and emotional distress, I can help you create a life worth living.

I can help you with:

• addiction
• depression
• anxiety
• stress
• grief and loss
• self esteem
• managing difficult emotions
• family dynamics
• parenting
• life transitions
• guilt and shame
• relationships

The secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom, courage.
-Thucydides

Counselling Services

Many people face challenging times in their lives, there may be situations you find more difficult to manage than others and feel in need of some support. You may find you are getting less enjoyment from life, wanting to isolate, avoid others, struggling with anxiety, depression and sleep. As we go through life, we develop different ways of coping such as talking to friends, family or we may turn to alcohol or drugs or other forms of addiction to get us through the difficult phases. However, there comes a time when this stops being helpful.

You may find it difficult to talk to people close to you about personal issues. This is where I can help. For me the ultimate goal of therapy is about creating a life worth living and not one just to be endured.

You have taken the first brave steps of looking for a therapist, which can be difficult, so congratulations. I look forward to helping you become your own therapist and find a new way forward.

The focus of my work is to support you in finding and making the most of your full potential enabling you to live your best life possible. It is especially important to understand and address the challenges you are facing without returning to old behaviour. This can lead to a rich, full and meaningful life. My collaborative approach to therapy supports you to reach your goals and to find balance in your life.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
– Maya Angelou

My Counselling Approach

I provide a confidential, safe and supportive environment in which you can discuss difficult issues. I work at your pace with regular reviews of the work we are doing together to ensure we’re on track and focusing on all your support needs.

The approaches I use include:

• Motivational interviewing
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Client centered therapy
• Family work
• Mindfulness techniques
• Life skills counseling
• Compassion focused therapy
• Talking therapies
• Abstinence
• Harm reduction
• 12 step model

About Me

I have been working as a counsellor for 23 years starting in the UK where I completed my training. I worked in a private drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers as a therapist, working with individual clients and also facilitating groups, from here I went on to work with families who had been affected by other’s substance use.

After moving to New Zealand 17 years ago, I started working for the Salvation Army Bridge Programme as a therapist. My role was to facilitate a variety of different groups and see individual clients. I have experience working with a variety of populations which includes adults, adolescence, couples and groups.

Since working in private practice I have worked with a number of different populations including children, teenagers, adults, couples, families and groups, covering issues ranging from bullying, school and social anxiety,  school and exam pressure, relationships, life changes, anxiety, grief, loss and depression, etc.

Please feel free to get in contact. I look forward to hearing from you.