Our Counsellors
Please note that our Counsellors are contracting professionals who charge accordingly for their time. The NPCT does offer discretionary subsidies for anyone in the Porirua area who may be experiencing financial hardship.
Robyn Te Paiho - Counsellor
Bachelor of Social work, Certificate in counselling, Certificate in clinical Supervision, Certificate in Business Studies.
MNZAC & MNZCCA
Robyn works with teenagers, adults and couples.She has been working in private practice for approximately 25 years and has had experience working in hospital settings and community agency settings as well.Robyn is a visual person, so sometimes she might encourage you to write or draw what is going on to help you focus on that, rather than just talking. She is able to use the following methods of working: Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive behavioural Therapy, Interactive Drawing Therapy and Prayer Ministry.She has contracts with the following:Gumboot Friday Funding, Tū Ora Compass Health, and several Employment Assistance Programmes (EAP) with Benestar, Vitae and Raise.
Wendy Dawson - Counsellor
Bachelor of counselling; Certificate in cognitive behaviour therapy, Certificate in supervision, Certificate in Christian counselling.
MNZCCA
Wendy has been counselling for the last 15 years. Her approach is to provide an environment where clients can explore, process, and find ways through life’s challenges. She often brings her little therapy dog to sessions. She is passionate to see clients achieve their goals and grow in strength and resilience within the counseling journey
She helps with issues such as relationship issues, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, anger, abuse, PTSD, work place conflict, stress management, self esteem, communication skills and adolescent issues. She provides a safe, accepting and non-judgemental environment for you to work through your issues.
ACC registered.
Karl Smith - Counsellor
Bacherlor of Counselling
Hello my name is KarlI’m in my fifties heading to 60I refer to myself as a Pastoral CounsellorI will utilize giftings and tools that I have, with life experiences that brought me into this counselling field later in life. from a road of learned experiences from woundedness to healing to be where I am now, knowing who I am and what makes me to be who I am All blended into a Pastoral counselling approach involving counselling , guidance , mentoring , strengthening , straight talking , keeping it real.
Jennifer Drummond - Counsellor
Dip Teaching, BEd, Graduate Diploma in Counselling Practice, MNZAC
Jennifer is a compassionate and non-judgemental person who believes that no-one is defined by their past experiences, their choices or by the way they or others see them. As I journey alongside my clients through the challenges they are facing, I aim to listen, encourage, share strategies and offer insightful support to help them to discover their strengths, their potential and gain a greater understanding of themselves. I am a creative person and bring this creativity into my sessions where possible.
Chris Malcolm - Counsellor
Bachelor of Arts; Bacherlor of Counselling, MNZAC
Chris has been counselling University students for the last 8 years. He has experience with a large range of issues that people bring to counselling. He seeks to create a non-judgemental and accepting space that people feel comfortable in. Chris works from the strong belief that everyone has inherent worth. He is interested in drawing on the strengths already in people’s lives to help them negotiate the difficulties that they face. He believes that even small changes can be effective in reaping ongoing life reward. Chris works using Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused therapy and CBT
He has contracts with ACC and Raise EAP
Laura Hurtado-Roberts -Counsellor
Graduate Diploma in Counselling Practice
PhD in social sciences from EHESS (Paris, France)
MNZAC
Laura is a practitioner in developmental movement therapy [Extra Lesson™], an educational approach to neurodevelopment and child development. Experienced in working with parents, families, children and young people. Laura provides counselling for women, men of all ages and couples experiencing loss and grief, cultural identity issues, sense of belonging, childhood trauma, abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, pain from chronic illness, transitioning through life stages.Using a person-centred approach and inspired by the ideas of Viktor Frankl, Laura works with warmth, non-judgmental acceptance and deep listening in order to create a sacred and safe space with the client. Using stories, art, movement, play therapy, sensory integration, body awareness and mindfulness as a way to strengthen the client’s personal needs in their journey toward self-affirmation and self-discovery.She has an understanding that clients are individuals existing in the wider context of their society and culture, demonstrated through working with people from many cultural backgrounds. She speaks Spanish and French as well, and honours Te Tiriti of Waitingi. She lives in Wellington, NZ with her husband and have a daughter in her twenties. Laura loves stories, writing them and telling, loves the sea and the NZ bush.