Counselling
Whatever challenges you are facing, we all need support. But reaching out for support takes courage, and willingness to work hard to create change in your life. When you are ready to make that step, we are here to provide that support through counselling.
Your counsellor can help you find tools that might help you navigate the challenges you are dealing with. They are someone unbiased, who may help you understand another perspective, or help you better understand yourself and what may be underlying the problems you experience. They can provide both support and accountability as you work together through challenges, and work toward any goals you may have.
At Te Whare Awhero, all our counsellors are qualified and professionally registered. We have provided counselling services in South-West Christchurch for more than 30 years, as part of our overarching purpose of building hope in our community. We have removed financial barriers to accessing support through our subsidised, sliding payment scale.
How can counselling help?
Through counselling, we can provide tools and support to help you through personal challenges, including anger, stress and burnout, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, fear, guilt or shame, self-esteem and body image, trauma or PTSD, and thoughts of self harm or suicide.
We can provide support navigating relationships, including those with parents, children or teens, in the workplace, or within wider social settings. We can provide couples counselling or individual support navigating intimate relationships, including support through a separation or divorce.
We can support you through challenging events in life, including grief and loss, trauma, medical or health challenges, pregnancy or post-natal depression, parenting, relationship breakdowns, social issues, workplace challenges, or navigating significant changes in your life.
Some challenges may require support beyond the scope of what we can provide, or outside the expertise of your counsellor. In that case, we help to connect you with a person or service that can help.
Our counsellors
Our counsellors are all fully qualified, and professionally registered. Each counsellor has their own skill set and follows their own style of counselling. It’s important that your counsellor is the right fit for you, so you can build trust and a strong connection.
You can read more about our counsellors, their backgrounds and philosophies in their profiles below. You can request a specific counsellor, although their availability may vary.
Or get in contact with us here, let us know your needs and what you’re looking for through counselling, and we can connect you with the counsellor we believe may be the best fit for you.
Meet Our Counsellors
Jude is the Counselling Manager for Te Whare Awhero. She offers a professional counselling approach that is person-centred, gentle and respectful, holistically embracing people's individuality and uniqueness.
She works with those ages 16 and upwards, and has experience with trauma work, PTSD, depression, anxiety, relationships, grief and loss.
She likes to acknowledge that we all need someone to come alongside us at times when our struggles just seem too difficult to cope with on our own. At other times, we just need support in searching for new meanings in our life’s journey.
Jude McLean - B. Couns, MNZAC
Sarah is our school-based counsellor at Christchurch Adventist School.
She has previously worked as a Registered Nurse with over ten years of experience.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys relaxing with family and friends, walking the dog, and playing the ukulele.
Sarah Walker - B. Nursing, Dip. Couns, MNZCCA
Kristina Posthuma - B. Couns, MNZCCA
Esther cares about people and is passionate about creating trusted meaningful relationships where people can be comfortable to be themselves. She knows that life can be hard and having someone there to listen and provide accompaniment and support through challenges can make all the difference.
Esther works as a Person Centred counsellor, which means that she knows that her client is the expert in their own lives - her aim is to work alongside people to help them move towards a place of peace and personal fulfilment.
Esther is married, and has teenage children. In her spare time, she likes to connect with friends, sing and dance around the kitchen, laugh, read, meditate, have deep and meaningful conversations and generally squeeze as much out of life as possible.
Esther Skinner - 3rd yr Intern towards B. Couns
Alex holds a Bachelor of Counselling from Vision College and has a background in youth work. He enjoys camping and is also a keen gardener. Alex is passionate about supporting clients and helping them to heal, grow and to integrate difficult parts of their experience.
In his work he embraces the opportunity to journey with a diverse range of clients and continually strive to become a more ethical, professional and competent counsellor. He is specifically drawn towards the areas of trauma, attachment and how neuroscience informs effective counselling.
“I consider it a privilege and a joy to work in the field of counselling.”
Alex McClelland - BA and B. Couns, MNZCCA
Jacqui is a third-year counselling intern working toward a B. Couns. She has had over 20+ years’ experience working with young children and their whanau within the education sector. Her special focus was neurodiversity.
Jacqui acknowledges that life’s journey is not always smooth sailing. That there can be bumps and pitfalls along the way. Her desire is to invite her clients to make the safe and trusting space she offers, a place where their needs are meet.
Jacqui uses a person centred and narrative approach to counselling and counts it a privilege to journey alongside her clients. She is especially drawn towards the areas of grief and loss.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, board games, walks and time out to read.
Jacqui P. - Dip Ed, 3rd year B.Couns, student affiliate NZAC and NZCCA.
Shannon holds a Bachelor in Counselling and a BA in English . She has spent 19 years in youth work.
She counsels adults and families with person-centred therapy and narrative therapy. She counsels couples with emotionally focused therapy.
Her passion is to see people find their turangawaewae or a place to stand: to connect, be empowered, and to belong to a community.
Shannon is married with three children and loves going on holiday with her family to Hanmer Springs. Outside of work, she spends her time reading and attending photo workshops.
Shannon Hayes - BA and B. Couns, MNZCCA
Jess offers a space of safety and warmth for clients to come and explore the challenges they face. Her hope is to facilitate conversations that lead to deeper self awareness and meaningful change.
Jess works with women and young people from a combined approach of person centred and narrative therapies.
In her spare time Jess enjoys dancing, being outdoors, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Jess Dickson - B. Couns, Provisional MNZAC
Elizabeth offers a safe and nurturing space to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds. She aims to come alongside a person and walk with them as they explore life and move towards hope. She considers it a privilege and joy to journey with someone.
Elizabeth uses a person-centred and narrative approach to counselling as well as drawing on her experience from 20 + years working as a Registered Nurse with terminally ill people.
Elizabeth is married and has a family, and loves gardening and knitting to relax.
Elizabeth N - B. Nursing, B. Couns, Provisional MNZCCA
Heather believes we are all unique and precious individuals that long to feel safe, validated, loved and understood in our relationships with ourselves, our whānau, our friends, and our community. She uses a person centred and narrative approach in providing a safe space where clients are invited to work collaboratively through the difficult experiences that we can all face in life in seeking to promote restoration and positive change.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Counselling from Laidlaw College and a Pastoral Care Certificate from Mind Health. She holds a Teacher Aid Certificate and was trained as a Play Centre Co-ordinator (ECE). She is working towards a Post Grad in Child Centred Play Therapy, focusing on trauma, attachment and the evidence-based benefits of play.
Heather has three grown adult children and in her spare time likes to walk, garden, read and spend time with family.