About Violeta Gaddum

Life is a journey

Throughout this journey we run into unexpected transitions, stresses and losses; our relationships change, our health changes, we change.

Some experiences can create very uncomfortable feelings and impair our ability to cope. When life gets overwhelming, it is reassuring to know that you don’t have to do it alone.

It is hard to seek professional support, so you being here probably means that feeling out of control has become even harder. Seeking counselling for yourself, your child, or your loved ones is a sign of strength and courage.

As your therapist, I am committed to supporting you, and will work cooperatively with you to identify helpful ways to achieve your goals.

Sometimes it is about learning to cope, other times it is about problem-solving, or finding better ways to communicate your needs. Or it may be about identifying bad habits, toxic relationships, or a wrong direction, and creating change.

My experience of therapy is that good communication and transparency leads to successful outcomes, so I work hard to create a safe and secure atmosphere for clients. I have over 18 years of experience working in mental health, both in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. I am enthusiastic about my work, and invested in always finding new and better ways to help people heal and grow in ways they never thought possible.

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Violeta's journey

My story starts in Brazil.

There, I trained for five years to become a Clinical Psychologist, followed by a three-year post-graduate study to specialise in Family Therapy. I then moved to the UK, where I trained further and received a Masters of Science degree in Family Therapy from King’s College London.

I spent over a decade working for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK with individuals and families of young people and adults struggling with eating disorders (click here for more information on specialist eating disorders therapy).

At the end of 2019, my family and I moved to New Zealand, where I have set up my private practice, from where I continue to support people in their healing journey.

While I have a broad range of knowledge on therapeutic issues, it is really my enthusiasm and engagement that drives my work, and my clients feel it.

Working for the public health systems in both the UK and Brazil has given me a wealth of experience in supporting people from different backgrounds, ages, cultures, spiritualities, and clinical severity during very difficult times in their lives.

I aim to meet clients where they are, honouring what is meaningful to them, including their culture, beliefs, and world views in a non-judgmental way.

I am fortunate to be able to work not only with clients from New Zealand, but continue to offer online therapy to people in the UK and Brazil. Online therapy is an incredible resource, especially if you find it difficult to commute and travel for appointments for any reason, or need appointments outside usual working hours.

For a detailed CV, please check my page on LinkedIn