Madhu Chandra

Madhu is a registered psychotherapist working with adults, in private practice at Birkenhead, Auckland and online.

Areas of Special Interest

• depression
• grief
• trauma
• anxiety
• relationships
• self-esteem
• shame
• gender and sexuality
• migration adjustment
• PTSD
• intergenerational trauma
• LGBTQI+, Queer friendly

Therapy Services

Life can feel overwhelming at times. You may find yourself feeling anxious, depressed, or stuck and unsure of what to do. Reaching out for support takes courage – and you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our belief systems and behaviours form through childhood experiences and can become automatic responses to current situations. Psychotherapy helps bring these patterns to light so you can understand yourself better. As adults this helps to make mindful, conscious choices and decisions. I offer a caring, empathic and non-judgmental space, in person or online, where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and patterns.

Benefits of therapy include:

• healing emotional wounds and trauma
• understanding what you want from life and relationships
• finding healthier ways of resolving conflict at work and in relationships
• building resilience and tolerating anxiety when challenging situations arise
• recognising what strengths and skills you already have
• leading a more fulfilling and happier life

Therapy Approach

• Psychodynamic and relational psychotherapies
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT)
• Mindfulness
• Drawing therapy
• Dream interpretation

About Me

I was a body therapist for 20 years, working with people who lived with chronic pain. My interest in psychotherapy began through recognising that we cannot separate mind from body as physical and emotional pain are felt emotionally, mentally, and physically.

As a psychotherapist, I work holistically to understand who you are as a person and what your goals and needs are.  I welcome working with people of all cultures and genders. Each of us has unique experiences and therefore each person’s journey through life has challenges that only they have dealt with. Together, through the relationship we build in therapy, you can learn to understand the deeper aspects of yourself. This includes behaviours, unconscious triggers and defences that were used to cope and keep you safe through childhood and adolescence but are no longer working as an adult. In therapy you learn better, healthier ways of coping and how to build resilience during challenging times.

I was born in Aotearoa New Zealand but have travelled widely and lived in several parts of the world therefore have an awareness of how cultures differ in worldviews, traditions and customs. Your life may hold complex and sometimes conflicting beliefs and cultural experiences.

As a mature adult, I apply my life experiences and skills to help understand issues you are going through. I am caring and compassionate but also have a pragmatic outlook on life which is necessary to cope with the realities.  My previous experience includes working with people with complex mental health issues at the AIH Psychotherapy clinic and with groups and individuals at Segar House, a public mental health specialist service.