Counselling and therapy

I became an addictions counsellor in 2003 through an American institute that provided training to those who had their own life experience of addiction and recovery.

For five years I worked with young people as a Certified Addictions Counsellor with full DAPAANZ registration. My work with youth in addictions continued for the following three years while I retrained in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy.

After completing my psychotherapy training I moved into a senior counsellor role within a clinical mental health team in a hospital environment, providing one on one therapy and group work to people with severe mental health and/or addictions issues.

During this time my private practice began which involved one on one therapy and group work for people graduating from a private residential addictions facility in Auckland.

After 12 years of delivering clinical work in the DHB and NGO sector I chose to move into managing mental health services as well as continuing to build my private practice.

Over the last five years I have had a specific focus on supporting people integrate their plant medicine or shamanic experiences into their daily lives. Using a combination of traditional therapeutic approaches in combination with more esoteric or shamanic approaches to talking therapies.

I have also developed a specific interest and skill set working with individuals or couples who choose – or are considering exploring – unique relationship styles such as relationship anarchy, polyamory etc.