Discounted & lower cost help
Newly graduated and student counsellors are required to complete a certain number of face-to-face hours to either graduate, or achieve full professional body membership (with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors). Consequently, their fees are reduced. If you'd like to access this type of counselling service, please contact the people below. Please note they will be attending professional supervision as part of offering their service to clients.
There is also a counsellor and organisations listed who offer lower cost/subsidised counselling.
Newly Graduated Counsellors
Mariane Morandini
Counsellor | Bachelor of Counselling
My name is Mariane Morandini, I'm from Brazil and have lived in NZ for the last 15 years. In December 2018, I completed my degree in Counselling at AUT.
I'm a provisional member of NZAC, working towards my full membership.
My private practice is in Mt Albert, and at moment the majority of my clients are South American.
I work in Portuguese, Spanish or English; from a person centered perspective.
I feel confident that I can be helpful to my clients, especially with anxiety, difficulties with immigration and abusive relationships.
I love what I do and I'm so grateful that I can help people to recover their best!
One of my values is to be with my heart in my room, that's the reason that I am flexible with my fees (as much that is possible) so that my clients know what defines our relationship is not the money that they pay per session.
My website is still in the process of being translated to English | ph 021 26 26 444 | fees $75-90 | based in Mt Albert, Auckland
James Slawson
Counsellor | Bachelor of Counselling, Provisional Member NZAC
Hi, my name is James Slawson and I work predominantly from a client centred and collaborative approach but I also include aspects of narrative therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy. I have an openness and willingness to adapt these approaches to suit the client and their needs.
I specialise in LGBT and Intersex, gender and sexuality, identity, depression, anxiety, addiction, relationships, HIV, self esteem, isolation and loneliness.
I will listen to you without judging or criticising and together we can talk about and explore any issue that you find troubling
Fee $90 negotiable, sliding scale available, WINZ clients accepted
Days and times can be negotiated, depending on availability
ph 021 117 0952 | jpscounselling@gmail.com | 1 Poynton Terrace, Auckland CBD
Student Counsellors
AUT Psychotherapy Students | AUT Integrated Health
We’re a teaching healthcare centre offering a range of services to the community. Our students work alongside expert, qualified staff – and our approach is interprofessional, meaning we all work together to meet your health needs.
$50 per counselling psychotherapy or psychotherapy appointment | based in Northcote | https://aih.aut.ac.nz | book an appointment at this link
Citizens Advice Bureau
Many of the Citizen's Advice Bureaus around Auckland offer free counselling through student counsellors.
Please get in touch with the CAB to inquire:
CAB Mt Roskill
CAB Eden-Albert
CAB Onehunga
CAB New Lynn
CAB Massey and
CAB Glen Eden.
Other lower cost help in Auckland
Deanna Wharton
Counsellor (Provisional Member NZAC), PGDip Counselling and BSc Psychology | Ellerslie beginning September 2021
Hi there, I'm Deanna and I have a real passion for helping people through the many challenges we face as humans in a way that best works for each individual. My goal is to support clients through meaningful change towards living a more satisfying and happier life.
I integrate a variety of counselling approaches underpinned by a special interest in mindfulness-based practices which help to foster awareness, self compassion and stress reduction. I've also facilitated Mindful Parenting courses for a number of years (and I'm a Mum of two children).
I've worked with clients struggling with parenting, anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma, grief/loss, stress, drug/alcohol use, and reactivity.
I offer a compassionate and non-judgemental space for you to speak freely about your challenges so we can explore them together.
I'm currently also studying my Master of Counselling at the University of Auckland (my research topic is parenting childhood anxiety) and am working towards my full membership with NZAC.
Counsellor/client fit is really important so I'm very happy for you to give me a call or email and see if I sound right for you.
$90/hour| Ellerslie from September 2021 | ph 021 250 4751 | deannawharton1@gmail.com
Kavita Ram
Counsellor | Member of NZAC | Auckland/evenings
Kia ora. My name is Kavita Ram. I was born in Hamilton, NZ and grew up in Fiji. I moved back to NZ in the year 2000 to complete my tertiary studies in Neuroscience at Otago University in Dunedin, and then went onto study Counselling with NZIPC in Auckland.
I speak fluent English, Hindi and Fiji Hindi.
I specialise in:
stress
anger
anxiety
depression
grief and loss
trauma
domestic abuse
women's issues
family violence
confidence
parenting
relationship issues across generations
work issues
migrant and immigrant issues.
I work with children aged 6 and over. Through individual therapy, I provide a caring, safe and supportive environment for them to express themselves in.
I also work with women in their darkest moments of abuse, trauma, sexual abuse through to suicidal thinking, empowering victims into survivors, breaking the abuse cycle.
My approach to counselling is primarily person-centred, collaborative and strengths-based. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative and play therapy influence my work.
I can help you gain skills for coping around parenting, gain insights into lifelong patterns of behaviour, look at underlying issues and find ways to resolve them and support you as you move onto a more confident, fruitful life.
https://ahimsacounselling.com/ | ahimsacounselling@gmail.com | Talking Works listing | ph 021 090 25168 | $115 | based in Ellerslie North, Auckland
Anglican Trust for Women & Children (ATWC)
The Anglican Trust for Women and Children is a major Auckland family charity and one of the city’s oldest.
We have been helping mothers, children and families since 1858 and are here for the long haul.
Through our family services, early education services and social work services we are committed to investing in Auckland’s children and building them the happy, healthy future they deserve.
We need ongoing funding and donations to keep providing our high quality services to Auckland’s community.
By supporting ATWC you will help us to keep putting families first. You can donate here.
ATWC has a sliding, negotiable scale of donations and fees for self-referring clients, which is based on what they can afford and is discussed at their first appointment. We may also be able to help self-referring clients to access other funding sources.
Fees for agency referrals are set and range from $100 for individual counselling/ psychotherapy sessions to $150 for co-therapy sessions.
They can help with child psychotherapy and counselling services.
For self or agency referrals | call 09 276 3729 | info@atwc.org.nz.
Auckland Women's Centre
We provide affordable, quality; personal help, learning opportunities, counselling, support groups, community forums, and collective advocacy on women's issues.
Auckland Women's Centre is:
a friendly, accessible place for women
run by knowledgeable and passionate feminists
a place to get involved and feel you belong
open to women of all ethnicities, incomes, cultures, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and ability.
a provider of free or low cost services and activities
a well-established organisation dedicated to promoting empowerment and well-being for all women
actively working in collaboration with other like-minded agencies
committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and open and responsive to today’s challenges.
All women are welcome to drop in, phone or email Women's Support for free support, information, referral and advice.
Our trained staff help over 3,800 women a year by offering:
crisis intervention to women with complex needs
support, information, advice and referral for emergency housing, women’s refuge, rape counselling, child abuse reporting, abortion, parenting
links to AWC’s low cost community education programme and counselling
referral to the right service based on particular needs
At the Centre there are noticeboards, displays and written resources promoting women’s activities, events and social services. Ring or drop in - we are here to help!
Monday-Friday | 9am-4pm | 4 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland
https://awc.org.nz/counselling | info@womenz.org.nz | 09 376 3227
Frontiers of Hope
Subsidised mental health support
Too many mental health services offer just one or two treatments in the hope that will 'fix' everyone.
The Frontiers of Hope multidisciplinary specialist team offer a wide range of different treatment options.
We look at the whole person and not just 'what is wrong'.
We also offer support to extended families, as they navigate challenging situations supporting family members.
All Frontiers of Hope's treatments are evidence-based, meaning they are published in peer reviewed scientific journals.
Talk Therapy info at this link.
The Grief Centre
Birkenhead
Fees are based on household income and what is affordable – their goal is to provide counselling to all those who need it. Bereavement Support Groups are held around Auckland.
Lifeline
Subsidised face to face counselling
Specialist Counselling is currently available from Lifeline’s Auckland centre to parents with dependent children or youth aged 17 and under or via online counselling nationally.
We currently offer 4-6 sessions per person. Lifeline’s qualified, registered counsellors have broad experience with a wide variety of clients and issues. They are all volunteers, many of whom are also in private practice, who make a minimum of 3 hours a week available for Lifeline clients.
We believe that money should not be a barrier to someone accessing quality counselling. Our fees are set on a sliding scale based on household income (0.1% of income e.g. $60K – $60/session) with a minimum of $60/$80 individual/couple. Our fee for youth aged 17 and under is $5 per session. When the minimum is beyond what a client can afford we will talk through options that may be available to them and won’t let financial hardship get in the way of high quality support.
To find out more or to make an appointment please contact us here or email counselling@lifeline.org.nz.
ProCare/Fresh Minds
Funded or partially funded counselling, psychotherapy or psychiatry services
If your doctor is a member of ProCare, you may be eligible to have fully or partially funded counselling, psychotherapy or psychiatry services through the Fresh Minds programme.
Wingspan Counselling (formerly Home & Family Counselling)
Wingspan provides affordable short to medium-term counselling services for everyone. We work on a wide range of issues with individuals, couples and families.
Whether it’s couples counselling, family counselling, counselling for anxiety, grief, stress management or any challenge you may face…we’ll most likely have a counsellor who can help.
Our services are affordable and accessible to all. We work with children, teenagers and adults.
We are committed to providing the highest level of counselling assistance available so that our clients can lead more fulfilling lives. Wingspan provides services which are free from any discrimination, coercion, harassment and sexual, financial or other exploitation.
Wingspan have two Auckland locations - Mt Eden & Northcote
Although we have suggested fees, you can negotiate an affordable fee for your household. We have a programme for women with protection orders in place that is funded by the Family Court.