AUT - Counselling services we offer you at AUT University

Undergraduates

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We offer free face-to-face and online counselling for all AUT students. Meet our team of counsellors.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a process of privately talking through anything that is concerning you. Counsellors will listen to you sensitively and without judgement, and will try and see things from your point of view.

Some examples of why you might choose to talk to a counsellor are

• Any concerns about your studies
• Loss and grief
• Coping with stress
• Relationships
• Concerns about sexuality
• Anger, anxiety or depression
• Motivation
• Conflict
• Alcohol or drug issues
• Changes and worries
• Feeling suicidal or at risk of harm
• Domestic violence
• Harassment or bullying

Our brochure gives you detailed information about what counselling is, and who our counsellors are (2 pages, 1.96 MB)

Make an appointment to see a counsellor

Phone us on:

+64 9 921 9992 (City Campus)

or

+64 9 921 9998 (North Shore Campus)

or come to reception at the Health, Counselling and Wellbeing centres.

• Counselling appointments are 1-hour long
• We also have a duty counsellor for same day or urgent appointments

Online counselling (E-counselling)

Online counselling lets you use the internet to talk through anything that is concerning you. Online counselling can take place via email or live chat. You may choose online counselling to complement face-to-face appointments, or you may choose to talk through any issues online only.

If you are interested in online counselling, you must read over the online counselling risks, benefits, privacy policy and safeguards. This is very important information. It describes how online counselling works and contains important information about your privacy and safeguards. This document forms the basis of your informed consent. You can then register to start online counselling.

To learn more about online counselling and to register, visit online counselling

Our counsellors

Kevin Baker
Head of Counselling
RGON, Dip Psychotherapy, PG Cert (Clinical Supervision)

The role of Head of Counselling is to lead and support the work of the counselling team. The key requirements of the team are our focus on student support, health and wellbeing, and the quality of our services across the student experience.

Counselling is a dynamic and therapeutic activity that supports people to look after and improve their health holistically. My background is in health promotion with strong interests in sexual health and mental health promotion. My training was as a General and Obstetric Nurse, and I also graduated from the AUT Psychotherapy programme. In the last ten years I have worked in clinical services management within community agencies.

My theoretical approach to counselling is holistic and multimodal. I draw on counselling and psychotherapeutic methods from psychodynamic, narrative, cognitive-behavioural, crisis management, solution-focused, and brief therapies. I enjoy working with men and women and with personal and developmental concerns across the lifespan.






Sabrina Afu
Duty Counsellor
BSocP & MNZAC

My role is to be responsive to students or staff needing urgent counselling or mental health support, and to respond to staff working with these students.  I provide general intake sessions, urgent assessment, brief intervention, and in some instances short-term therapy.  An assessment will gauge how best to meet the needs of students or staff seeking counselling services.  A referral to appropriate community services or AUT Health, Counselling and Wellbeing staff may occur.  I also work in conjunction with the Student Advisor for Mental Health, to provide support for students/staff experiencing mental health crisis/or a DSM V diagnosis.

I believe the counselling relationship is a collaborative one which brings forth the client’s resourcefulness, strengths and possibilities for dealing with whatever difficulty he/she is experiencing. My professional areas of interest are grief/loss, trauma, decision-making, assertiveness and depression/anxiety.
 





Placid Te Aoerere Briggs
Counsellor MNZAC & MANZASW
Ngaiterangi Te Arawa, Ngai Tahu
B.Ap.SocSci (Counselling), Dip SocPrac (Counselling), Grad Cert Supervision

Tena koutou Katoa
E mihi nui ki a koutou.

I am pleased to be here in the Health, Counselling and Wellbeing Centre AUT and to be able to offer support and care as you make your way through student life. My counselling is a combination of my cultural upbringings and the western methodologies that I employ. As a counsellor I take an eclectic position. By interchanging and combining counselling models, a range of strategies may be offered, solutions explored and best outcomes achieved. My goal as counsellor is to engage, listen without judgement and support you in the changes you wish to make. I work with diverse cultures and ethnicities and my approach is consistent with a holistic framework. I am available to see students and staff members both at the City Campus (Monday and Tuesday) and North Shore Campus (Wednesday and Thursday).

Nau mai haere mai,
Kia ora Koutou
 


Don Gooder
Counsellor
BA (Auck), Dip. Counselling (Cant), Dip. Tchg (ACE)

I value the opportunity to work with clients who present issues around anxiety associated with work, relationships or sexuality. I support all clients to set their own realistic goals and actively encourage them to achieve these.
 








Amanda Lees
Counsellor
MA (Hons), MEd (Hons) Counselling, MNZAC

Recent developments in brain imaging and science give us exciting new information about how our brain-mind-body-spirit functions. My counselling work is influenced by this information, has a humanistic and client-centred approach, and uses an eclectic set of techniques to facilitate change. I like assisting people to resolve difficult experiences, whether these stem from recent or old situations.


As a counsellor I endeavour to attend to your needs, explore your situation, assist you in managing emotions, help develop strategies to cope with your circumstances, and be cognisant of the pace that works for you. I work well with issues about the ‘self' and identity, self-worth, loss and grief, disruptive emotions, neglect and abuse, relationships, transitions, cultural adjustment, spirituality, and personal change.

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