Every person's world is as unique as their thumbprint. There are no two people alike. No two people who understand the same sentence the same way.... So in dealing with people you try not to fit them  to your concept of what they should be.    Milton Erickson Registered with the NZ Board of Psychologists Member of the NZ Psychological Society Thank You For Visiting My Website. The treatment of psychological or emotional difficulties can be traced back to antiquity. While our understanding of the nature of these psychological problems does differ greatly from that of the ancient Greeks, they also recognised the treatment value of encouraging and consoling words. Psychotherapy has progressed since then and there are many different valid approaches aimed at helping and supporting a person in times of emotional turbulence and difficulties. The challenge lies in finding the therapist that can address the issues you are seeking treatment for with the approach/es that may work best for you. What is often helpful is gaining a clear understanding of what it is you are looking for in a therapist, what kind of therapeutic approach appeals to you and to then search for a therapist that works this way. If you are not sure about what the various approaches actually entail, contact the therapists you are interested in to gain a better understanding of how they work. I see Clients for various Problems:                                                                           Eating Disorders                                                         Life Transitions and Crisis                                                                                                                                                          Trauma related Problems                                             Stress Management/Self Care                                                                           Anxiety                                                                      Compassion Fatigue/Burn-out                                                                           Depression                                                                 Emotional Regulation Difficulties                                                                           Psychosomatic Problems                                            Grief and Loss                                                                           Self Assertiveness Training                                         Communication Training for Couples  My Treatment Philosophy   I enjoy working in collaboration with clients to find the combination of methods that best suit their needs in the different phases of therapy. Every client is more than the problems they seek treatment for and possesses a wealth of experience, abilities and insights that can be utilised during treatment. In sessions I use a behavioural cognitive approach as framework, complementing it with alternative approaches that aim at addressing and integrating the mind, emotions and the body to facilitate transformation. I view therapy as a dynamic process that is as much a Science, a Craft and an Art, where humour and creativity are valuable vehicles for insight and timing is the key to lasting shifts.  "I may not have gone where I intended to go but I think I have ended up where I intended to be" Douglas Adams                                                             For a more detailed description of my professional background and approach, this link will take you directly to my Profile Page on Talkingworks:  www.talkingworks.co.nz/dir/48.html Should you wish to know more about how I work and the approaches I use, please feel free to contact me for an obligation free discussion I practice at various locations:      REMUERA                                                                                                   DEVONPORT                                                                     MAIRANGI BAY           St. Lukes Community Centre                                                                       Community House                                                                Abelard House      130 Remuera Road                                                                                          32 Clarence Street                                                                  518 East Coast Bays Road       Remuera/Auckland                                                                                          Devonport/North Shore                                                          Mairangi Bay/North Shore Fees and payment options:                 ~  The fee for individuals for a 50-60 min. session is $150.                                                                        ~   The fee for couples attending a communication skills training     ~  Sliding scale possible.                                                                                                                                 is $180 per session lasting 60 -75 min.     ~  Fees may be subsidised by WINZ for low income earners.      ~ Payment by cheque or cash is required at the time of each session.                                                                                                                                    To make an appointment, please phone me directly on my mobile  021 025 82396  or email me at: itransforme@gmail.com ~ ~ ~  A STORY ON THE WAY  ~ ~ ~   Persian mysticism recounts a story of a wanderer trudging wearily along a seemingly unending road. He was burdened by heavy loads. A sack of sand  was slung across his back, a thick hose with brackish water was wrapped around his upper body. In his right hand he carried a bulky stone, in his  left a big chunk of rock. Dangling around his neck was a heavy millstone tied to a frayed rope. Rusty chains with heavy weights were wound around his  ankles and a half rotten pumpkin balanced on his head. His chains rattled with every step he took. Moaning and groaning he moved forward slowly, step by step, lamenting his difficult fate and the weariness tormenting him. On his way he met a farmer in the glowing midday heat who asked him: "Oh weary wanderer, why are you burdening yourself with such a heavy chunk of rock and such a bulky stone?" "How silly of me ", answered the wanderer,  "but I wasn't even aware of carrying them  "". Whereupon he threw away the rock and the unhandly stone as far as he could and felt a lot lighter. Continuing his journey, he happened upon another farmer who asked him: "Tell me wanderer, why do you torment yourself so with a half rotten pumpkin on your head and why do you drag these chains with their heavy iron weights behind you?" "I am glad you pointed these out to me", answered the wanderer, "I wasn't aware what I was doing to myself". And he shook off the chains and shattered the pumpkin in a ditch by the roadside. Again he felt lighter. But as he proceeded along the way, he felt suffering come upon him again. A farmer standing in his field studied the wanderer in amazement and said: "Oh my good man, you are carrying a sack of sand slung across your back but what you can see there in the distance is more sand than you can ever carry. And look at the size of your waterhose - as if you wanted to cross the Kawir desert. Meanwhile there is a clear river running beside you which will still accompany you for a long part of your journey ." "Thank you farmer", answered the wanderer, "I am only now becoming aware of what I have been lugging around with me all this time." Saying this, the wanderer ripped off the waterhose, watched while the brackish water sickered and disappeared into the dry earth and then filled a pothole with the sand. The day was nearing it's end and the last rays of the sun sent him entlightenment. He looked down and suddenly noticed  the millstone around his neck which was still causing him to walk with a stoop. He unfastened it's bindings and threw it away as far as he could, into the river below. Unrestrained and completely free of his burdens he wandered into the cool of the evening, searching for shelter for the night. ~ ~ ~