OUR TEAM OF COUNSELLORS
Hanna Abebe-Cope
MSc Counselling, PGDip Counselling, Adv.Cert Counselling, BSc Psych
Hanna is a holistic counsellor who invites the wisdom of the body and mind in therapy, to
help people in the areas of anxiety, stress, identity, personal growth and more. She has a compassionate approach that allows her to connect with clients with ease. Hanna is a fully qualified, person-centered counsellor, integrating different modalities and techniques including, CBT, ACT, Polyvagal therapies and Mindfulness.
She has a background in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Counselling. For her
research thesis, she explored how different centering practices help enhance overall
wellbeing, which continues to be an area of interest. She is also trained in Somatic
movements, which help balance and nourish the nervous system.
Hanna loves working with people from all walks of life, cultures and ages.
Aimee Alexander
B.Couns, B.Arts (Hons), MNZCCA
Aimee believes that counselling can have a powerful impact on how people see themselves, function in relationships and perceive the world around them. She likes walking alongside people, hearing their stories, and working with them to gain self-awareness and build the skills they need to overcome the challenges they face. With a background in working with people of all ages who have faced depression and anxiety, Aimee uses person-centred and narrative therapy, integrating other modalities as they will be of benefit to each person.
Kathy Bennett
B. Couns, PGDipHS (Violence and Trauma Studies), MNZCCA, ACC Provider
Kathy enjoys working with young people and adults. She offers a range of counselling including support for sexual abuse, grief, anxiety and depression. Kathy uses narrative and strength-based approaches to build nourishing life-stories that develop the identity and hopes and values of a client. Kathy’s practice supports a collaborative relationship that respects the client, while allowing them a safe, non–judgemental space to explore feelings and challenging issues at their own pace. Kathy is a Seasons Group and DBT Group facilitator (Dialectic Behaviour Therapy), and is interested in helping equip clients with skills for living life well.
Romano Basabas
B.Couns (currently studying)
Intern at Care
Romano is a third-year counselling student at Laidlaw College. He has counselled young adolescents for his placement work; navigating through issues that include family relationships, friendship issues, stresses, behavioural issues, and bullying. Romano hopes to specialise in trauma work, which is fuelled by his convictions to journey alongside the suffering in the hopes of seeing them experience more fulfilled lives
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Elizabeth Brett
Grad. Dip Pyschotherapy
M Pscyhotherapy
PBANZ
I am a Pākehā New Zealander, born in Auckland. I grew up beneath the shadow of Maungakiekie and by the shores of the Manukau. I graduated from the Psychotherapy Masters programme at AUT in 2022. My research interests include biculturalism, whiteness, settler identity, and relationship to land.
I work primarily with adults and older young people (18-25). I have experience in working with clients dealing with grief, depression, anxiety, whakamā, adoption issues, disordered eating, maternal ambivalence, relationship difficulties, sexual violence, childhood trauma, abuse, ADHD, questions around sexual or gender identity, religious trauma, and with clients who are experiencing sadness or lack of satisfaction in their lives that feels harder to define.
I practice therapy because I believe in our capacity to live deeply and meaningfully, to mourn old wounds and to let go of old patterns, to come to know ourselves with honesty and compassion.
Myles Boag
B. Couns (currently studying)
Intern at Care
Myles believes that sharing stories with someone who listens and cares can be healing. He is in the final year of his counselling degree at Laidlaw College and is an intern at Care. After a decade of working in the trades industry, he has grown a desire to work with men to help them in their understanding of emotions and identity. He has experience working with young adolescents and dealing with issues like family dynamics, bullying, and identity work. He is passionate about being with people in whatever struggles they may face while coming alongside and helping to equip them to live a more healthy and fulfilling life. He enjoys movies, games, and hanging out with his wife.
Stephanie Cassidy
B.Sc; Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching; B. Couns (currently studying)
Intern at Care
Stephanie is a third-year counselling student currently completing an internship with Care
Waitakere. She is a mum of 2 adult children and comes with a wealth of life experience. Stephanie is a former primary school teacher and Teacher Aide and having worked with students and their families knows the gifts that are often unrecognised within people experiencing life’s challenges. She
likes working with them to explore their skills and strengths within a safe and caring environment. Stephanie is a skilled listener and uses person-centered, narrative, and solution-focused therapies to
help clients in their personal growth to develop healthy change in their lives.
Shikha David
B. Counselling, B. ASc. (Env. Health) Provisional Membership with NZCCA (pending)
Shikha completed her Bachelor’s degree in counselling at Laidlaw College in 2022. Shikha’s heart is to journey with people (children, adolescents and adults) in their waka as they slowly and gently unravel their heart narrative of pain, grief and trauma. Her passion is to come alongside people, and discover their gold in them, in the sacred space, as they share their deep struggles. Shikha migrated from India more than 20 years ago and can speak Hindi, Urdu and English fluently. She has a background in working with people from various cultures in public health service for more than 10 years, which has been instrumental in her richness of life experience. Shikha has two teenage children and she is currently enjoying her new hobby of gardening.
Cathy Dodd
B. Couns., Dip. Teaching, MNZCCA.
Cathy is passionate about children, teenagers and adults having a voice. As a counsellor, she is particularly interested in life transitions, personal identity, grief and loss, anxiety and depression, and family relationships. She has always been involved with children and families, as a former Primary Teacher and foster parent, mother and grandmother. Her life experience and skills have taught her the value of helping children, teenagers and adults share their difficulties in a safe environment, discover their strengths, and to find healthy ways of self-care for optimum wellbeing.
Helen Dyer
B. Counselling, MNZAC
Helen loves sitting with people and journeying alongside them as they deal with the deeper and more personal issues that life brings. She sees it as an absolute privilege to be able to hear others’ stories and support them as they shift through their thoughts and emotions in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Helen is passionate about working with teenagers and adults who are dealing with a range of issues. She has been trained in Narrative therapy and PCT, but likes to work eclectically; drawing from many different areas that might help support each client (i.e. DBT; psychotherapeutic models; transactional analysis; and mindfulness). She has a background in working as a support worker in both adult mental health and a residential eating disorder service. Helen loves to paint in her spare time and has two small children.
Dianne Everest
B. Couns., MNZCCA, ACC Provider
Mum to three almost adult sons, Dianne is familiar with the world of boys and works with children, teens and adults. Experience in supporting high school students with special needs brings a compassion and desire to hear, help and give voice to those who are less understood by society and to assist parents living with Autism in the family. Dianne works in creative ways; clients are given opportunity to express themselves in a safe environment, learn coping skills that work best for their personality type and can be taken into their everyday life.
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Su Fenwick
MNZAC. B.Soc.Prac (Couns), ACC Provider, Registered Teacher, Adv. Supervision Cert. VWB & SW Facilit
Su brings a wealth of experience in counselling across a range of areas, contexts and people. Su works with children, adolescents and adults where she is able to walk alongside those experiencing the impact of trauma, grief and pain. Her counselling approach is to strengthen and equip while gently lifting the weight of memories and experiences, pain, shame and guilt. Her passion is seeing people freed from what holds them in places of struggle and pain. Su is also a clinical supervisor and has worked in both schools and agencies during her years of Counselling.
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Sarah Hargreaves
PGDip Ed (Couns), GDip (Teaching), M.A (Development Studies), BA, NZAC (Provisional Member), ACC Provider.
Sarah is an experienced counsellor who works with adolescents and adults to help them overcome struggles and lead more fulfilling lives. As a counsellor, she enjoys supporting her clients to gain an increased understanding of themselves, tools and strategies for healing and change, mental and emotional wellbeing, and to feel empowered and re-connected to themselves and others. Having experienced the benefits of counselling herself, she believes that clients have the ability to discover and determine what is best for them. She has worked within educational, forensic and drug and alcohol treatment settings in New Zealand.
Rob Hunter
Grad. Dip. Pscyhotherapy, B.A. Soc. Anthropology, M.A. Soc.Anthropology (Maori Studies)
As a psychotherapist I am interested in how the mind manifests in our life. I have always wondered how we can use challenging life experiences to evolve. I am curious about the role symptoms can play in this process of development. Arnold Mindell the founder of process orientated psychology eloquently expresses and conceptualises an approach to the human experience that I feel closely aligned to. The mindfulness revolution that seems to be exploding in many fields of human endeavour is an area I am partcularly interested in and fits well with my background in Taiji (a Taoist mindfulness practice). I am also fascinated by the developments in Neuropsychology and the influence this is having on psychotherapuetic thought and practice.
Charlotte Letcher
PGDip Counselling Theory, Bachelor Ed (Teaching), NZAC (Provisional Member)
Charlotte is passionate about the life stories of children, young people and adults being heard and validated. As a counsellor, she is interested in supporting people through grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, identity, eating difficulties and relationship/family issues. Charlotte has a background in primary school teaching and guidance counselling, therefore offering specific knowledge, skills and experience with children and young people. She believes that all people need a safe space to share, to explore and to grow in their understanding of their strengths, their unique story and their place in the world. She feels privileged to walk alongside people during some of their most challenging times with compassion and respect and does this by incorporating a range of different therapeutic approaches and strategies into her counselling work. Charlotte is trained and experienced in Person-Centred Therapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT and Play Therapy.
Andrew McRoberts
DipCouns, MNZAC
Andrew believes our lives are precious and deserve our care. He focuses on depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, grief and self-esteem, through individual, relationship, and family counselling. As children we all cleverly devised ways (often unknowingly) to deal with our bad feelings from our circumstances; self preservation! He helps clients realise what these are, how they effect our emotions, thoughts and behaviours today, and provides tools to release them. These dynamics effect our relationships, personal or not, and our families. Every life is important and valid, and he would be honoured to help you towards a brighter future.
Mele Queensell
PGDip Counselling
Provisional Member NZAC
Mele is of Tongan descent and fluently speaks Tongan and English. Mele brings a
wealth of experience in counselling and social work across a range of ethnicities,
genders, and ages. Mele believes that it is important to tell your story the way you want it
to be told and it is also important to find someone who is willing to listen to your story
with no judgement. She has a belief and hope that people can and will overcome
obstacles and struggles in their lives that limits them from reaching their desired destiny
by telling their story and learning to remove the burden of shame and building courage
and perseverance. Mele works with children and adults and is passionate to be able to
help all that walks in her counselling room to be able to share their struggles and unload
the burdens they walk in with.
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Julie Reddy
PGDip Counselling Theory, BSc. Earth and Ocean Sciences, MNZAC (provisional)
After transitioning careers from environmental and health sciences, Julie has found her passion as a counsellor where she is honoured to walk alongside children, young people and adults as they more deeply experience themselves in the counselling space. She is completing her Master’s degree at the University of Auckland this year, with her research focused on understanding parents experiences within child counselling. Julie is inspired to help others through difficult life challenges including abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, interpersonal relationships and identity issues (gender, sexuality, spiritual etc.). Her eclectic knowledge and skills provide her with a kete of strength-based counselling methods to support diverse clients needs including play therapy/child counselling, DBT, mindfulness, sand tray, creative expression, narrative therapy as well as others. As a mother of two children, Julie is passionate about supporting parents and their children in other social community initiatives as well.
Danielle Smith
B Applied Counselling
Provisional Member NZAC
Kia ora,
my name is Danielle, although a lot of people call me Dani. I am a provisional member of the NZAC. My approach is a warm, empathetic, person-centered and pluralistic approach. Having knowledge of tools and different therapies, I have found creating connection is an important piece to the puzzle. I provide a safe and non-judgemental space for those to unpack and release the stresses of life - creating goals and walking with you, while you achieve them.
Claudia Sutherland
Bed, Dip Teaching, Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling, MNZAC
Claudia is a Narrative Play therapist and works with children aged 5-12 years.
She believes in walking beside children to story their world in a safe and therapeutic environment.
Claudia collaborates with children to achieve their goals in living the best life they can.
She believes in capturing stories of difference to harness children’s imagination for rewriting the problem story.
Claudia encourages working alongside parents so they can help their tamariki grow and flourish.
She also incorporates other models of therapy, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness into the play sessions.
Claudia lives with her husband and daughter and animals in West Auckland.
She enjoys reading, coffees out and spending time with family.
Kim Taylor
B.Counselling, Cert.Business & Law,
Full Member of NZAC
ACC Sensitive Claims Provider
Kim is a mother of four adult children and has experienced the ups and downs of relationships, parenting and life. Her passion to support, empower and restore people’s sense of worth and value has led her to counselling.
Individuals are the experts on themselves and know what is best for them. Kim works to help people see themselves as separate from the problems they are facing. We are not the problem, but we do face problems.
The starting point is listening to people’s stories. Through hearing what has happened to people we can make sense of the problems they face. Kim helps people begin to see themselves without the limiting stereotypes and labels assigned to them by family and society. It is through identifying and reconnecting with our strengths and abilities we can begin to see hope, choice and the possibility of change.
Kim believes in the unalterable value and mana of people. Nothing that a person does or has done to them, can alter their value or worth. Our past experiences do not need to dictate our future.
Mavis Seymour
Dip. Counselling (endorsed in Family Therapy) Adv. Cert. Dreamwork, MNZAC
Mavis has 15 years’ experience counselling and facilitating groups in the West Auckland community. She has extensive experience in the areas of family violence, family relationships and relationship with self. She also works alongside clients experiencing grief, depression and anxiety. Mavis uses dream-work as a way of enabling clients to gain insight and strength and to connect with their inner process. Working with people and families impacted by disability is of particular interest to Mavis.
Ann Welcome
PGCert. Health Sciences, B.Couns, dapaanz registered Practitioner/Accredited Supervisor, Brainspotting Practitioner, ACC Provider
Ann migrated from Malaysia (of Chinese ethnicity) more than 20 years ago, is married to a New Zealander and is mother of two teenage boys. Ann works with individuals and couples who are struggling with life transitions, migration issues, feeling stuck, anxiety, trauma, depression, addictions, grief, stress and feeling overwhelmed. She works in a holistic way (mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing). She uses a variety of therapeutic modalities and skills to empower her clients to move towards a more purposeful and fulfilling life, to grow psychological flexibility and learn skills to better manage difficult thoughts and feelings.