Frequently Asked Questions
Is therapy for me?
This is a very personal question that is unique to you! On a broad sense, large bodies of studies suggest that people who utilize therapy demonstrate increased levels of contentment, meaning, and connection. Should you seek therapy support if you notice that you have been continually struggling with something? Sure. Does something have to be 'wrong' with you to seek therapy? No. Therapy helps clients uncover strengths and learn new skills that will allow them to deal with the challenges that arise in life. A successful therapy experience does not mean a client is 'cured', it means the person has the inner and outer resources to deal with the ups and downs of life to help navigate their overwhelming inner world. Therapy can foster resilience, increase self-knowledge and self-awareness resulting in extra tools in your kit when you are faced with unexpected life challenges and your inner world is feeling chaotic.
How long is therapy?
Individual sessions run 50-minutes. The duration of therapy depends on your needs and goals. This is something that we will discuss during our first session.
Speaking of which, what does the first session look like?
Whether you have done this before or this is your first time, scheduling your first session is a courageous step!
We typically start with a FREE 15-minute phone consultation where we can ask some questions of each other. From there, we may decide to schedule a session together. I may send you intake paperwork to complete online before our first session so that we are not wasting out time with paperwork. Our first session is our chance to get to know one another. We will discuss what brings you in, learn some background information about you, and answer any questions you may have. At the end of session, we will discuss ideas and how therapy may be helpful for your specific needs. First sessions are 60-minutes long and I so look forward to meeting you!
What can I expect a general therapy session to look like?
Unlike what you may have seen in a movie or two, I will not stare blankly at you as you nervously struggle to put words together...or something of that effect. Also, there isn't always a couch and people don't always lie down on it (another myth). Therapy is an interactive process because it is a relationship. In the beginning, I may speak less or ask more questions as I am getting to know you but as time goes on, I do share my thoughts when it will be helpful. My holistic approach will also incorporate some mindfulness, along with meditation and yoga if you are open to this.
You are an ACC Registered Counsellor. Can I contact you direct for sessions, and how would this work with ACC?
Soulful Psychology is an ACC accredited counsellor for Sensitive Claims services. If you have experienced sexual abuse or sexual assault, contact us to make an initial appointment, where a claim can be submitted to ACC on your behalf to begin the Sensitive Claim process. The claim does not need to be current and you do not have to have an official police report submitted in order to access ACC support. Soulful Psychology will liaise with ACC on your behalf as you continue your sessions and will keep you in the loop with ACC processes.
Where is your office located?
I currently offer in person sessions from my cosy little office based in Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. I offer sessions via online systems to people who wish to work with me but are not based in Auckland or New Zealand. Send me a message so we can see if I'm the right person for you and if our times align!
What if I don't know what to say or don't know what I'm actually needing from the sessions?
That is ok, and you are not expected to have all the answers. I have had clients share with me that they delayed booking a session because they did know they were struggling, however, they could not name what the problem was or what they would need from me to help them 'fix' this, and so did not want to waste my time. If you are noticing something is off and has been off for some time, that is enough and all you need to book a session. Figuring out what is going on for you together and helping you understand certain thoughts, feels and behaviours and how these are impacting on your life is all part of therapy.
Who do you work with?
I work with young adults, adults, and couples from different walks of life and those belonging to minority cultural groups such as Maori, Pasifika and Rainbow communities.
You say you are a mindfulness-based therapist. What does that mean? Do I have to be spiritual to work with you?
Not at all! Here are two definitions of mindfulness:
Do I have to talk about my past?
Only when you are ready; and I promise we won’t stay in the past forever! Your past serves as a bridge to see into the root causes of problems. The past is helpful as a teacher, but not as a home in which to live.
I believe many of our problems are caused by habitually living in the past or the future. For example, people experiencing chronic depression may believe that things will not get any better no matter what they do. Or someone who struggles in relationships may doubt that their partner will still love them if they are truly themselves. These types of self-defeating beliefs can be combated through mindfulness-based, somatic, and experiential therapies. By challenging people to be themselves even when their habit is to hide or get bigger than they actually are during difficult, stressful, or shameful times, you start to discover that it really is okay to be you. And it is.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
I offer a number of session for reduced rates depending on your income and circumstances. Feel free to make contact, and let me know your circumstances towards the reduced rate sessions, and we can go from there!
This is a very personal question that is unique to you! On a broad sense, large bodies of studies suggest that people who utilize therapy demonstrate increased levels of contentment, meaning, and connection. Should you seek therapy support if you notice that you have been continually struggling with something? Sure. Does something have to be 'wrong' with you to seek therapy? No. Therapy helps clients uncover strengths and learn new skills that will allow them to deal with the challenges that arise in life. A successful therapy experience does not mean a client is 'cured', it means the person has the inner and outer resources to deal with the ups and downs of life to help navigate their overwhelming inner world. Therapy can foster resilience, increase self-knowledge and self-awareness resulting in extra tools in your kit when you are faced with unexpected life challenges and your inner world is feeling chaotic.
How long is therapy?
Individual sessions run 50-minutes. The duration of therapy depends on your needs and goals. This is something that we will discuss during our first session.
Speaking of which, what does the first session look like?
Whether you have done this before or this is your first time, scheduling your first session is a courageous step!
We typically start with a FREE 15-minute phone consultation where we can ask some questions of each other. From there, we may decide to schedule a session together. I may send you intake paperwork to complete online before our first session so that we are not wasting out time with paperwork. Our first session is our chance to get to know one another. We will discuss what brings you in, learn some background information about you, and answer any questions you may have. At the end of session, we will discuss ideas and how therapy may be helpful for your specific needs. First sessions are 60-minutes long and I so look forward to meeting you!
What can I expect a general therapy session to look like?
Unlike what you may have seen in a movie or two, I will not stare blankly at you as you nervously struggle to put words together...or something of that effect. Also, there isn't always a couch and people don't always lie down on it (another myth). Therapy is an interactive process because it is a relationship. In the beginning, I may speak less or ask more questions as I am getting to know you but as time goes on, I do share my thoughts when it will be helpful. My holistic approach will also incorporate some mindfulness, along with meditation and yoga if you are open to this.
You are an ACC Registered Counsellor. Can I contact you direct for sessions, and how would this work with ACC?
Soulful Psychology is an ACC accredited counsellor for Sensitive Claims services. If you have experienced sexual abuse or sexual assault, contact us to make an initial appointment, where a claim can be submitted to ACC on your behalf to begin the Sensitive Claim process. The claim does not need to be current and you do not have to have an official police report submitted in order to access ACC support. Soulful Psychology will liaise with ACC on your behalf as you continue your sessions and will keep you in the loop with ACC processes.
Where is your office located?
I currently offer in person sessions from my cosy little office based in Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. I offer sessions via online systems to people who wish to work with me but are not based in Auckland or New Zealand. Send me a message so we can see if I'm the right person for you and if our times align!
What if I don't know what to say or don't know what I'm actually needing from the sessions?
That is ok, and you are not expected to have all the answers. I have had clients share with me that they delayed booking a session because they did know they were struggling, however, they could not name what the problem was or what they would need from me to help them 'fix' this, and so did not want to waste my time. If you are noticing something is off and has been off for some time, that is enough and all you need to book a session. Figuring out what is going on for you together and helping you understand certain thoughts, feels and behaviours and how these are impacting on your life is all part of therapy.
Who do you work with?
I work with young adults, adults, and couples from different walks of life and those belonging to minority cultural groups such as Maori, Pasifika and Rainbow communities.
You say you are a mindfulness-based therapist. What does that mean? Do I have to be spiritual to work with you?
Not at all! Here are two definitions of mindfulness:
- Simple definition: bare-bones attention
- Long definition: the opportunity to connect directly to our experiences, to be able to perceive our environment without putting demands on it to be different, to experience our current emotional state without attempting to change it, and to observe one’s own thoughts and action patterns without attempting to stop or control them
Do I have to talk about my past?
Only when you are ready; and I promise we won’t stay in the past forever! Your past serves as a bridge to see into the root causes of problems. The past is helpful as a teacher, but not as a home in which to live.
I believe many of our problems are caused by habitually living in the past or the future. For example, people experiencing chronic depression may believe that things will not get any better no matter what they do. Or someone who struggles in relationships may doubt that their partner will still love them if they are truly themselves. These types of self-defeating beliefs can be combated through mindfulness-based, somatic, and experiential therapies. By challenging people to be themselves even when their habit is to hide or get bigger than they actually are during difficult, stressful, or shameful times, you start to discover that it really is okay to be you. And it is.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
I offer a number of session for reduced rates depending on your income and circumstances. Feel free to make contact, and let me know your circumstances towards the reduced rate sessions, and we can go from there!
© Copyright 2024-2025 Soulful Psychology.