I specialise in trauma informed counselling for children (7+) and their parents/caregivers, adolescents and individuals. My work is person-centred, and I use a range of different therapeutic approaches, most often a mixture between Brief Solution Focused Therapy and Internal Family Systems.
My work is underpinned by Te Tiriti’s principles of Partnership, Protection and Participation and the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) Code of Ethics.
Trauma robs you of the feeling that you are in charge of yourself, of self-leadership. The challenge of recovery is to reestablish ownership of your body and your mind – of yourself. This means feeling free to know what you know and to feel what you feel without becoming overwhelmed, enraged, ashamed, or collapsed.
For most people this involves:
I am ready to offer my support and guidance to you on your journey through these stages that most often overlap as well as with recognising, validating and healing the imprints of the trauma on body, mind and soul:
(description of trauma taken from the book The body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk)
Originally, I am from Slovenia and I immigrated to New Zealand with my two children (now adults) 15 years ago. I started literally from zero – as a vineyard worker in Marlborough vineyards, with no NZ recognised education and I worked my way up to Masters in Counselling at Canterbury University. I worked as a guidance counsellor in primary and secondary schools in Christchurch. I was a Clinical Leader and a counsellor at Skylight Trust in Wellington as well as Programme Clinical leader in a well-being project Brave Waves. This project sought to provide a framework and baseline programme for schools, communities, whanāu, hapū and iwi. I am a facilitator for Parenting through Separation courses (Ministry of Justice) in Wellington and Lower Hutt. Right now I am working to become Internal Family Systems certified practitioner.
- Member of NZ Association of Counsellors (MNZAC)
Please, contact me to discuss fees, but normally an hourly fee is $100.
I am mostly available from 1 pm to the latest 8 pm. If you are interested in the morning session, we can discuss that.
Please txt me rather than call me as there is a great chance I am in the session and wont't be able to answer to your call.
Payment by internet banking is required on a day of the session, unless otherwise arranged.
Generally, at least 24 hours notice is required for cancellation, or the full fee applies.