Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

The difference is that a mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way – it could be with new skills, different perspectives, listening to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, counselling is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counselling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals.

Therapy is a useful resource to help you reflect on and examine life events and navigate life challenges. It can help you gain self-awareness, understanding and empathy. Therapy can be a great aid in helping discover what you truly want from life and what it is that is really important to you.

But unfortunately, therapy is hard work. Because it involves uncovering and sitting with painful thoughts and emotions instead of avoiding them. Therapists are trained to work through difficult feelings with you, which means you have to deal with those feelings. You are going to feel uncomfortable, and you will want to quit, so remind yourself why you want to do this hard work. It is worthwhile.

Because each person has different issues and goals for counselling, it will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs and we can discuss more about your expectations in our first session.

The therapeutic process is something that we build together, so your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success. Making notes after the session helps to keep our conversations in mind, as well as practicing small changes on a day to day basis, so that it starts to become part of your life is also helpful.

This depends on several factors, such as the presenting difficulties, your commitment to therapy, and also finances. We can work on a more structured basis for a short-term piece of work, or we can work more long-term. I might make clear recommendations and suggest the involvement of other Disciplines in cases where risk is higher, such as active eating disorders or other difficulties that might pose risk to self or others.

I am committed to provide you with a safe and confidential space and all sessions are confidential. I would only be required to breach confidentiality if I am particularly concerned about your own or someone else’s safety. In such cases, I would, of course, try to discuss it first with you before I act on any of my concerns. This will be discussed again during our first consultation.

No, unfortunately I can’t offer immediate emergency interventions. If there is an emergency (you feel at risk or concerned about your own or someone else’s immediate mental health) I would usually advise the following:

UK – you can call or take yourself to the nearest Accident & Emergency department of a Hospital or call your GP during opening hours. You can also call the emergency services on 999

NZ – Call your local mental health crisis assessment team or go to your local hospital emergency department. If you are in immediate danger, call 111. Or call Lifeline New Zealand on 0800 543 354

Being registered as a Psychologist and Family Psychotherapist is a little bit different in different countries.

Many professions count with a Board that regulates their practice. They assess and register professionals enabling them to use certain protected titles, such as "Psychologist" or "Physiotherapist". A Board oversees the quality of their members' education, their practice, and their commitment to continuing professional development. Their main purpose is "to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practice their professions" (HPCA Act, 2003).

To become a registered member, there are certain criteria that one needs to meet, and that varies depending on the country they are. I have been a registered Clinical Psychologist in Brazil for the last 15 years, however, I can't use the title Psychologist in New Zealand.

Sometimes a profession that can be regulated in one country but not in another. This is what happens with Family Therapy. While New Zealand doesn't have a regulating Body that oversees this profession, I have been a registered and certified Systemic and Family Psychotherapist in the UK for the last 10 years.

At the end of the day, the goal of these Institutions is to provide professionals with a Code of Ethics that guides their practice.

Check the links for more information about:

• Regulated health professions in New Zealand: HPCA Act

• My qualifications and career path: About me 

Profession’s Code of Ethics and Practice that I abide by in my practice:

• Code of Ethics and Practice AFT

• Code of Ethics and Practice UKCP

• Bank transfer (NZ clients only);

• Stripe online payment; 

• Face to face appointments can also be paid in cash.

Since the scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of time set aside especially for you, a minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for the cancellation of an appointment. If for any reason a session is cancelled less than 48 hours prior, the full fee will be charged. There is no extra charge if instead of cancelling the session, you rebook it for a different slot within that week (pending on availability).