It is important to know that you are in control of your therapy sessions. These sessions are guided by your goals for therapy - goals such as feeling less distressed, reducing specific symptoms, or addressing an addiction issue, for example. Together, you and the therapist will create a space in which you feel comfortable sharing anything you wish to discuss.

While talk therapy may not suit everybody, many people find that it helps improve their mental health. The effectiveness of the various approaches used by Tōtara Therapy (including CBT and EMDR therapy) is well-supported by research.

The number of therapy sessions that a person needs will depend on their needs and goals. For some people, 10-12 sessions is enough for them to achieve clear improvements. For other people (for example, people with a complex history of trauma), a timeframe of six months to one year may be required. Research indicates that long-term talk therapy can sometimes be counterproductive. Therefore, at Tōtara Therapy, the aim is to generally limit the duration of sessions to no longer than one year.

Tōtara Therapy’s standard sessions are 50 minutes long. If you wish to have an extended therapy session, efforts will be made to accommodate this. Sessions are usually scheduled fortnightly or weekly.

You are welcome to bring a support person with you to your online therapy sessions. This could be a friend, family member, or your partner. Please note, however, that Tōtara Therapy does not offer couples counselling.

A standard (50-minute) session costs NZD $170 (including GST). If you wish to have an extended session, efforts will be made to accommodate this. The cost of extended sessions is calculated at the same rate.

Payment is expected within four days after each session. Follow-up appointments cannot go ahead unless your payments are up-to-date. Payments are to be made by bank transfer.

Note that before you begin therapy sessions, Tōtara Therapy offers a free 15-minute consult by video call. This may help you to make an informed choice about whether the therapist, her approaches, and online therapy in general feel like a good fit for you.

Yes, you can self-refer and you do not need a referral from another health provider.

Bookings can be made by filling in the form here

Appointments can be made Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm (NZST). Appointments are generally available on a fortnightly or weekly basis.

The therapist is not available during evenings or weekends. Contact between sessions should be limited to confirming or changing appointment times, or other pre-arranged & agreed-upon contact.

No, appointments are online only.

Please provide at least 48 hours' notice (by email) for any postponement or cancellation of sessions.

If you encounter any issues or concerns related to the therapy process, it is important to discuss this with your therapist. You also have the right to terminate the therapy at any stage.

In the very early stages of therapy, you and your therapist will discuss your unique needs and goals. As part of this process, the therapist will share her initial thoughts on the best therapeutic approach for you, and explain the reasons for this. The choice of therapeutic approach is then made collaboratively.

Some introductory information about CBT and EMDR can be found here.

Couples counselling is a specialized form of counselling in which both members of a couple attend sessions together. The counsellor works with the couple towards their goal of overcoming relationship difficulties.

Tōtara Therapy does not offer couples counselling. However, during therapy sessions, individual clients can of course discuss issues that they may be experiencing in their relationships.

Tōtara Therapy provides online, one-to-one mental health therapy. Online therapy is sometimes called ‘virtual therapy’, or it may also be referred to as ‘telehealth’, which is a broader term. Whichever name is used, this form of talk therapy requires access to a computer and a stable internet connection.

Tōtara Therapy uses Microsoft Teams for video calls. It is not necessary for you to download this software, however, as you will be provided with a link which enables you to join the video call through your internet browser.

In the event of a technology failure during a session, the therapist will initially try to contact you by phone. If the video call cannot be continued on Microsoft Teams, efforts will be made to resume the session via an alternative video conferencing app (Doxy.me). Again, this app is browser-based and there is no need for you to download any software.

In addition to a computer and internet access, it is important that you have a safe and private space for yourself during the online therapy sessions.

Your information will be treated as strictly confidential. There are some exceptions, however, including situations:
+ Where you consent to your information being given to someone else.
+ Where there is an imminent safety concern (i.e., risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else).
- In this event, your therapist will attempt to speak with you in order to clarify what is happening. It may then be necessary to contact another person or organisation, to notify them of this safety concern and plan an appropriate response.
+ Where the law requires disclosure (e.g., by the Courts, or an agency such as the Police or Oranga Tamariki).

In some circumstances, information about you might be shared in a way that does not identify you. For example, your therapist may discuss your case during clinical supervision. Such discussions with a supervisor are a requirement of a therapist’s professional registration, and are done to ensure safe practice.