Suzi, hours & cost

• I completed a 7 year Diploma of Counselling & Family Therapy, and 1 year Applied Grief Studies Certificate in 2005. I chose an experiential programme, which required the students to be self-responsible, self-observant and accountable. I was able to learn and grow as a person and professional.

• I began working with clients in 2002 and have now completed 11,523 client hours (as at late September 2024). I work with couples, individuals and adult families (including young adults from age 16 upwards). I have training, experience and/or interest in:

  • systemic family therapy

  • transactional analysis

  • attachment theory

  • human development

  • emotionally focussed therapy

  • conflict management

  • Gottman couple therapy

  • communication skills

  • life balance

  • anxiety & depression

  • the process of grief & grieving

  • suicide awareness

  • sexual orientation & gender issues

  • trauma & recovery

  • values & spirituality

  • mind/body/spirit connections

  • law of attraction

  • living life consciously

  • "The Work" process by Byron Katie

  • Reiki

  • Hakomi, and 

  • sex therapy. 

• One of my mantras is "I am where I am and it's ok". Understanding ourselves is helpful, and sometimes making a good guess at understanding others (where we're not able to check in with them) can also be useful. Sometimes we will never know the whole picture of what has happened in a particular situation and accepting the unknown can bring great peace.

• I promise to listen to your story and experiences, and work with you to achieve your desired goals at a pace that is comfortable for you. My personal belief is that we experience the darkness in our lives on the way to appreciating the light. Sometimes we get stuck in the dark times and need assistance to shift forward once again. I would describe my practice as holistic - you have many elements to you including mind, body and spirit - all need to be attended to for true healing to occur. I am willing to work with whichever aspects you are comfortable exploring.

• I will endeavour to make the counselling room a place where you can safely be authentic and honest. The best outcomes are reached when everyone is truthful. If they are not, change cannot occur and everyone’s time is wasted.

• Our first session enables us to learn a little about each other and contract to work together towards your desired goals. This usually involves drawing up your family tree, talking about past experiences that may be affecting you now, and agreeing on what you'd like to achieve from the counselling process. 

• If I am not the right counsellor for you, we will discuss this and I will support you to make alternative arrangements. It is important for me to get enough relevant information to assist you with your goals; this may take more than one session, so a plan may not be established until the second appointment.

• You are welcome to bring a support person or animal to your appointments, particularly to your first session. 

• I take brief notes about what has been discussed and agreed. These notes are kept in a locked cabinet. If you have any questions about what I’m writing during a session, please ask.

• I offer you complete confidentiality unless you give me permission to share anything we have discussed with another person. The only exceptions to this are:

  • As a professional counsellor in New Zealand, I am required to attend supervision regularly (see below under "supervision"). 

  • If I believe you or someone else may be at serious risk of harm (where possible, I will discuss this with you first).

• All registered, practising counsellors in New Zealand are required to attend supervision. This means talking to another experienced counsellor about our client work to ensure that we are clear on our motivations, our own processes, and that both the clients and ourselves are kept safe. My supervisor is bound by the same ethics and confidentiality as me. I talk about my clients in such a way that they can’t be identified.

• Your investment for counselling is $165 per 50 minute session for one person, $175 for two people and $185 per session for 3-4 people/mediation sessions. 

• The above prices are for in-person sessions. A surcharge may be added to online sessions shortly.

• All prices include GST.

• Funded services available on this page.

• If you wish to pay by cash/debit card, Visa or Mastercard, there is an eftpos terminal at the clinic.

Some funding options that will allow you to see me:

• I offer EAP counselling through, Instep, Southern Cross Healthcare Partners (formerly Raise), Telus (formerly Benestar) and Vitae. I am also happy to invoice your employer directly if they are not registered for an EAP programme. Check out this page for more information on EAP.

• Air New Zealand Injury Management (for current or former employees injured at work)

• Cerebral Palsy Society| getUpAgain funded counselling for members & parents - more information on this page.

• If you experienced abuse in state care between 1950 & 1999, the Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care may fund 4-6 sessions; more info about the enquiry at this link.

• Xero Assistance Programme for Xero customers funds 2 sessions

• Victim Support funds up to 15 sessions for those who meet certain criteria.

• WINZ Disability Certificate - form at this link, information at this link.

• I don't offer a crisis service - there are many providers who offer this.

• If I have capacity, any contact between appointments is chargeable at my usual session rate. My availability to respond to contact will be dependent on my other commitments; and is at my discretion.

• There are a number of contact numbers at the top of this page, who have people at the end of the phone line, available to discuss your concerns 24/7.

• Each counselling session is 50 minutes long. It is up to both the counsellor and client/s to manage the time. I have a clock facing you and one that I can also see to ensure we keep to time. If there is an exceptional circumstance and we need to go over time, we can negotiate this; however if there is another client waiting, this may not be possible. If you arrive late, we will still finish at the set time of 10 minutes before the hour.

• If one session is not long enough for you to work through what you are wanting to achieve, you may wish to book a double appointment.

• Please provide as much notice as possible for any postponement or cancellation. If 24 hours’ notice is not given, the full fee will be charged (unless I am able to fill the appointment). Future appointments will be dependent on the cancellation fee being paid.

• If you have any cold or flu symptoms, we can convert to a video or phone session if you are well enough. 

• Please let me know asap if this is the case.

• The New Zealand Association of Counsellors/Te Rōpū Kaiwhiriwhiri o Aotearoa (NZAC) is the professional body for counsellors in New Zealand. Membership of this organisation ensures that counsellors are accountable for practising ethically and with cultural awareness and respect. 

• I hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) with NZAC; you can search for my name at this link and see my current APC expiry date. To obtain an APC, I must attend regular supervision, go through a rigorous professional development process annually, set goals for my professional practice/improvement, and regularly review them, and remain accountable at all times to my supervisor, NZAC and my clients.

• Click here for the NZAC Code of Ethics. If there is anything that you are uncomfortable with, I invite you to talk to me. If this is not ok for any reason, I can provide you with my supervisor's contact details.

• If we come across each other in another setting, I will not approach you (I am happy to be approached by you!) This is to prevent any possible embarrassment for you – if you have company, you may not want the people you are with to know how we know each other.

• It is unethical for me to offer a hug in case that makes you uncomfortable or it’s not what you are wanting. 

• However, you are very welcome to ask, and I will happily oblige.

• If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of an appointment, we will need to reschedule your appointment for another time. The full fee will be charged.

• Endings are important – many of us don't get an opportunity to do them well. If you are comfortable with this, I would like us to take the opportunity to farewell each other when it is time for our work to come to a close. Please let me know (if we haven’t already discussed it) when you feel like you may be wanting to finish and we can make a plan for a final appointment in a way that honours the journey we have taken together.

• I  see clients at 102 Main Highway (cnr of Main Highway & Hudson Street), Ellerslie North, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). 

• The clinic is located at 102 Main Highway on the Ellerslie/Greenlane border.

• Please note the clinic is not in the main Ellerslie village – it is over the bridge at the Main Highway/Robert Street intersection, opposite Chester's Plumbing.

• The pedestrian and carpark entrance is from Hudson Street.

• Free parking is available directly outside in the private carpark. You can park on the grass if the carpark is full.

• Helen is usually at reception from 8.30am-middayish Monday, Thursday & Friday. If you arrive outside these hours, please take a seat, and I will collect you for your appointment time.

• If you wish to pay by cash/debit card, Visa or Mastercard there is an eftpos terminal at the clinic. 

• If you require an invoice to pay by credit card or internet banking, please let me know.

• If someone else is paying for your session, I can email them an official invoice from Xero.