Patricia Pataki

Areas of Special Interest

• Anxiety and Depression
• Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
• Relationship Issues
• Childhood Trauma
• Issues with Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
• Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome

Psychotherapy and Counselling Services

I am an ACC Registered Psychotherapist with over ten years of experience in counselling and seven years of experience providing psychotherapy to children, young people and adults. I offer both short- and long-term therapy and can support you whether or not you have a diagnosis such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD.

I offer a safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment to enable my clients to work through any presenting difficulties.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

My approach to working in therapy relies mainly on psychodynamic theories: meaning that I believe that our early experiences (such as those encountered during childhood and adolescence) have a significant impact on us.

We may search for patterns in your life to understand what may be causing and perpetuating your difficulties. In long-term therapy it is crucial that you come to trust me to share these often very personal memories and experiences. My approach is trauma-informed and relational.

In line with existential philosophy, I have a deep respect for our human capacity to make choices and to be autonomous – I will not make decisions for you, nor pursue a set agenda during our sessions. I help clients get the most out of therapy by offering an alternative, neutral perspective; giving them space to reflect and come to decisions in their own time.

I believe that the relationship between therapist and client (the “therapeutic relationship”) is an important part of what makes therapy effective. Therefore, I take earning and preserving my clients’ trust very seriously.

My Approach to Working with Children/Adolescents

My approach to working with children and young people integrates play therapy, art therapy and relational (attachment-based) psychotherapy. I offer individual therapy sessions for children and young people, while working with parents/whānau in separate ‘Parent Consultation’ sessions.

When working with a child or young person, my primary aim is to help them explore, express and process potentially difficult or distressing emotions by making these feelings more manageable through the use of art, play materials and storytelling, within the safe space of therapy.

For further information about my approach or process, please contact me directly.