I commit to keeping a regular appointment time for you, with clear start and finish times. I’m unlikely to ask you to reschedule an appointment, and only in exceptional circumstances need to cancel. I will maintain clear boundaries in our relationship. If we encounter each other outside the therapy context I will leave it to you to acknowledge me, if you wish to. I'll not be offended if you don’t.
My role as therapist differs a little depending on whether we are doing Psychotherapy, Group Therapy, or ReWilding
In Psychotherapy and Counselling I listen, reflect, and hold the space for what emerges. I will offer my observations and curiosities about what you are grappling with, and assist you with making meaning. We are likely to talk about what is happening in our therapeutic relationship along the way. If you find therapy difficult for any reason, particularly if you feel judged or misunderstood, it's important you let me know so we can talk through what can feel hard to say.
Group Therapy includes my roles in Psychotherapy and Counselling with the added element of holding, containing, and facilitating the process of the group dynamics. I will have a focus on each group member as well as the group-as-a-whole.
With ReWilding Emma and I are responsible for making all the arrangements for us to be working in and with the wild. This includes transport on Waiheke island, the choice of appropriate location/s (outdoor and indoor), considering the appropriate Health and Safety issues, and making sure we have access to facilities needed. Emma and I are both Outdoor First Aid certified. We will offer particular activities and processes that facilitate you being immersed in the wild. We will also have roles of therapist as described above as ReWilding integrates psychotherapy and group therapy processes.
We all seek to make meaning from the stories of our lives. Every client is unique, so theory and technique sit quietly in the background rather than imposing on your story.
Transactional Analysis gives us a way of understanding personality through our stories, or Life Scripts. These scripts contain decisions made in childhood that are carried forward into adulthood as Script Beliefs. These beliefs influence how we think, feel and behave in relation to other people and to ourselves.
Working relationally invites us to talk about how we relate to each other, how this may echo your other relationships, and what we might do differently.
Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories of people's lives and involves finding ways in which people can change their relationships to whatever problem or difficulty they are facing. A problematic story may dominate and even hide other diverse stories that make your life rich. Bringing these preferred stories forward can reveal better ways of living
Myth, Metaphor, and Archetypes are super rich ways of enlivening your imagination and sense of spirituality (whatever that means for you). They provide doorways to your unconscious and invite new possibilities to emerge.
Animism recognises and honours the enlivened soul and intelligence of all beings and forms in our world and beyond. Humans are deeply embedded within the natural ecologies in which we live, despite our sense of separation. Animism allows a deeply insightful understanding of humans as ecological beings with an Ecological Self.
People’s emotions, vulnerabilities, and conflicts are valuable experiences to be welcomed, accepted and explored as rich sources of personal growth. Everyone has the capacity to replace old patterns of relating to themselves and others with new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are appropriate in the here-and-now.
a. Kāwanatanga (governorship) – I honour that clients entrust their information and experience to me for the purposes of healing, cure, growth, or learning.
b. Tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty) – All individuals have the opportunity to live autonomously and with a sense of belonging. I am committed to promoting individuality, diversity and community. In therapy, the client and I, as therapist, have mutual but different roles, duties of care and responsibilities.
c. Ōritetanga (equitable outcomes) – I am committed to mutual consent; to oppose physical, psychological and social violence and oppression; and, to be socially responsible.
d. Wairuatanga (spiritual freedom) – I have respect for all clients as a fellow human beings. I endeavour to practice without discrimination on the basis of religion, race, disability, nationality, socioeconomic status, gender, age, or sexual preference.
Your role is to commit to attend regularly and be willing to explore your experience.
Payment and Cancellation policy - You’re expected to pay my fee as described on the Fees page.
For Psychotherapy and Counselling I ask you to give me more than 48 hours’ notice for rescheduling or cancelling a session (whatever the reason). If you do not give me at least 48-hours’ notice by phone, text or email the full fee applies.
Group therapy session payments are obliged whether you attend or not because it is a commitment to the whole group rather than individual responsibility. If you are unable to attend a particular group session please let me know as soon as possible.
If you register for a ReWilding Workshop or Zoom session but become unable to attend (whatever the reason) we ask you to give us at least one week's notice by phone, text or email. With less than this notice the full fee will apply.
Informed consent - It’s important you have enough information to assist making decisions about engaging and participating in each therapeutic process. I welcome your questions and feedback about what you find helpful or unhelpful as it’s always useful for your therapy.
Confidentiality - What you share with me in sessions, over the phone, or by email will be kept confidential. Protecting your privacy and your safety is important and we'll discuss this more in your first session. All Group members are expected to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of other members, whether in the Therapy Group, or ReWilding Workshops.
Health and Safety Outdoors - Before considering being out in the wild, we will discuss your capacities and limitations to ensure we are going into an environment suitable for your needs. We will acknowledge there is always a certain element of risk inherent in outdoor activities. You will need to be physically and psychologically fit enough for the environment and activities we embark upon, and very important for you to disclose any medical conditions that may affect your safety, or the safety of the group. The locations chosen will be easily accessible, generally requiring a 30 minute walk at most, over easy/medium terrain. You will be responsible for bringing the required clothing and equipment as advised.
Your rights as a client of therapeutic services are protected by the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights. You have right to be treated with respect; the right to freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation; the right to dignity and independence; the right to services of an appropriate standard; the right to effective communication; the right to be fully informed; the right to make an informed choice and give informed consent; the right to support; rights in respect of teaching or research; and, the right to complain.