Therapists in Porirua

As Bessel van der Kolk notes, trauma is specifically an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, altering the way we process and recall memories. “Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then," he adds. "It's the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people.” I am a well-established health professional who has dedicated my professional life working on releasing trauma in a natural, nurturing way, returning my clients to their natural state of wholeness. I call this "The Journey Home". I work from a neuroscience perspective. Harmonizing all aspects of our being Mind, Body and Soul

I am a qualified and registered Professional & Clinical Supervisor and provide supervision for all industries. Do you feel lonely in your job and feel you cannot talk to anyone at work? Do you feel you wish you could unpack or brainstorm some work ideas. Let's do it together. Executives, managers, staff, social workers, sales, counsellors are all welcome to contact me.

Kia ora I’m Mikayla, I provide 1:1 counselling online and in person. My philosophy is to provide you with a safe and supportive environment to unpack and uncover emotions, thoughts or experiences in your life and provide you with skills to empower you to support and maintain your wellbeing. I come from a lived experience of working through trauma and mental health challenges, these experiences enhance my practice. I understand how everyone’s journey looks different and my role is to support you to navigate your way forward.

As a counselor, my journey is intertwined with families, postnatal depression, anxiety, hoarding, and parenting challenges. I create safe spaces for families, fostering understanding. Specializing in postnatal issues, I empower mothers and families with tools to navigate this phase. Compassion guides my work with hoarding, offering decluttering solutions. I help parents navigate the complexities of modern life, nurturing strong family bonds. My commitment is unwavering, aiming for growth, resilience, and healing in every individual and family I serve.

I work with a range of adult clients who are looking to improve their psychological and physical health in all kinds of ways. I'm experienced in recovery from chronic stress, anxiety and fatigue, healing the gut-brain connection, and integrating nutritional and lifestyle interventions alongside traditional psychology therapy. I enjoy helping people who have not experienced a secure childhood attachment to create secure adult attachment relationships and helping people heal from the effects of trauma and abuse. I also love to write and create free resources on well-being for Project Revive (linked on my website)

I work mainly with adults online, using Zoom. My clients come from various backgrounds, including all sexual or religious orientations. I walk alongside you to decide on your treatment plan. If you experience depression, anxiety, work-related or relationship issues, you could benefit from my service. I work with you to realise your goals by working from an eclectic (various therapies) perspective to support you.

I offer a safe, warm, confidential environment where you will be seen as a whole person. I will talk with you about any present or historical challenges you have by exploring your thoughts and emotions as we pay attention to and work therapeutically with what is also happening within your body. Physical signs we may observe together during your session can include changes in breathing, muscular tension, numbness, emotion, pain and differences in temperature as can happen during anxiety, depression and trauma. How we work together will depend on what issues are significant for you and what your needs are for each session.

Counselling is for everyone — whether you’re stressed or overwhelmed by current challenges, or you want to address some things that have been hanging over you for many years. As a counsellor, I play a unique role. Because I’m separate to your friends and family, I can offer a fresh perspective, which can be helpful and empowering. I’m trained to listen to your story with empathy, to identify areas that you may not be able to see, and to help you to make meaningful changes that allow you to build a healthy and fulfilling life. I help some of my clients to unpack their life story in a safe and supported way.

Commonly there is a range, e.g., addictions, mental health, offending, whānau dynamics, intergenerational trauma from colonisation and racist policies

Struggling with anxiety or stress? This could be social anxiety, health anxiety, fear of flying, panic problems or anxiety about anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or some nameless fear. You probably want to get out from the restrictions this places on your life.

I specialise in supporting clients to improve well-being on a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual level and cultivate a positive and healthy relationship with themselves and others. Oftentimes my clients are navigating stressful life events, negative thoughts, habits or patterns that aren't serving them, fearful thinking and/or low self-esteem. I hold a safe space for each of my clients and empower them to welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, sensations as they are, gently with no judgement. I also support my clients to discover their strengths, passions and purpose and find meaning, joy and happiness in their lives.

I am both a clinical psychologist and organisation strategist. I work with individuals and organisations, including in the cross-over area between personal and professional wellbeing and career issues. I have experience in many different high-pressure organisations in many sectors: health, public, nonprofit, entrepreneurial and startups. I work face to face and online with people from all walks of life. Recent client feedback on my work: 'I was quite astounded with how spot on you were with being able to articulate what was going on for me'. I use a practical approach based on using the best current evidence about what works.

Alexandra (Ale) Held is an NZ-trained and registered psychologist and a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She is experienced in working with a variety of challenging behaviours across adults, adolescents, and children in a range of settings, providing a high level of behavioural assessments and interventions. She is experienced in implementing intensive Behaviour Support Services, based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. She works from a non-aversive framework to increase positive behaviour, increase positive interactions, develop skills, and decrease the occurrence of challenging behaviours.

Alex is a New Zealand fully trained, Registered Occupational Health Psychologist. With her breadth of extensive training, research and internships, she has developed special interests in different areas of psychology. Alex's extensive training and experience allowed me to develop a commitment to excellence and appreciation of the vulnerability, diversity, and presentation of people. For her clients, her main assets are my approachable demeanour, emphasis on wellbeing, and straightforward appraisal of their unique needs and situation.

If you have been feeling lonely, sad or anxious, we can share a safe space where you can tell me your concerns. The purpose of therapy is generating deep awareness of one's own personality and behaviour, understand and learn how to live with your inner world, inquiring how our past affects our present.