Counselling

Counselling is a relationship to help address problems—issues, or questions, or ways of being, or ways of experiencing the world. People often begin by seeing themselves as the problem; my starting point is that the problem is the problem.

I have experience with a vast variety of concerns, in particular with the “Who am I?” and “Where am I going?” questions, and with personal loss and questions of sexuality. My approach is that of narrative therapy.

People work with me around

•  Abuse

•  Addiction issues

•  AIDS/HIV stress

•  Aloneness

•  Anger

• Bereavement

• Betrayal

• Boredom

• Coming out

• Communications

• Depression

• Dispute mediation

• Family problems

• Fears

• Goal-setting

• Hate

• Loss

• Love

• Partnership break-up

• Prejudice & hostility 

• Relationship ques­tions

• Sense of isolation

• Sadness

• Stress

• Sexuality issues

• Suicidal feelings

• Suicide aftermath

• Violence

• Work problems

In general people see me for one fifty-minute session a week, sometimes just once or twice, sometimes for a few months. (While email may be a helpful PART of working with me, for me it is necessary to meet you before any counselling or therapeutic work begins.) 

Any contact you have with me will be in the strictest confidence, except 

• if for some reason you wish otherwise, for example, if you wish to bring other people into our conversations, or if (unusually) if we agree that it would be helpful for me to discuss some matter with your doctor 

• in discussion with my professional supervisor who helps ensure the quality of my work with you.

• if there is a clear and imminent danger to you or someone else.

It is necessary to be very clear that I will have no sexual contact whatever with any client.

I am a Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, bound by its Code of Ethics, and subject to its discipinary prodedures. You are also protected in work done with me, as with any other health provider, by the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights. This requires me to maintain appropriate ethical standards and protects, for example, your rights to privacy, respect, dignity, independence, to receive services of an appropriate standard, and to freedom from discrimination or harassment.

I encourage those who see me to discuss any questions they might have about the work, and to complain when that seems right. My complaints procedure is in accord with the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights. You may take any matter further with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, with an independent advocate as provided under the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994, or with the Health and Disability Commissioner.

 © Bill Logan 2001, 2004, 2005