About Me
Throughout my career I have worked across a range of clinical, leadership, training and supervisory roles within addiction and mental health services. In addition to supporting clients, I have trained and mentored colleagues, contributed to workforce development, supervised students and developing practitioners, and supported teams in delivering effective and compassionate care. These experiences have provided me with a broad understanding of both the challenges people face and the skills required to support meaningful and lasting change.
I value ongoing professional development, reflective practise and maintaining high standards of care. My experience supporting both clients and emerging professionals has strengthened my ability to build collaborative relationships, communicate openly, and tailor support to the unique needs of each individual.
Outside of my professional work, I am a wife, mother, and stepmother to three adult daughters. I have a strong love of animals and enjoy spending time in nature. I also enjoy cooking and getting creative with new meals and recipes. These personal interests help me stay grounded and remind me of the importance of balance, connection, and wellbeing in everyday life.
My Approach
I believe counselling works best when people feel respected, understood, and accepted without judgement. The foundation for this is having a safe space to truly feel heard within a caring and safe therapeutic relationship.
My style is warm, genuine, and practical. Rather than focusing solely on problems, I work collaboratively with clients to identify strengths, build effective coping strategies, and create achievable goals. My work is grounded in evidence-based therapeutic approaches and tailored to each client’s goals and needs. These include mindfulness-based practice, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy informed practice, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy informed practice, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy informed therapy within a Client-Centred approach. I focus on helping clients build practical skills they can continue using long after therapy ends.
I offer online counselling via secure video sessions across New Zealand. If you’d like to learn more, you’re welcome to call me for a 15-minute consultation to discuss the support you need and whether we’re the right fit to work together.
– Carmen.
