Couples Therapy Auckland

Helen Bennett
Background

I have been working with couples for over 15 years and in the last few years trained in Emotionally Focussed Therapy for Couples (EFT for Couples). My experience so far is that it is by far the most effective model I have worked with as it can get to the heart of the matter, not just deal with the issues on the surface. To quote Alan S Gurman, Ph.D, "EFT is one of the most substantiated, well researched approaches to couple therapy". In my experience it offers people the best chance of deep and lasting change in their relationship. Among other things, it can improve communication markedly and restore the intimacy they once had.

My qualifications are in couples therapy, counselling and mediation and I am a full member of NZAC and am also registered with the Family Court.

Over my many years working with people, my time has been split roughly equally between couples work, counselling individuals and mediation.

Apart from some years working and travelling overseas, I have spent the majority of my working life in Auckland, both in the City and various other parts. I have a daughter who is now well in to adulthood. My non-work activities include mindfulness meditation (which I also teach), walking in the bush and dancing whenever I can.

Current practice and areas of special interest
Couples

The most common issues that arise for couples include feelings of not being heard, understood or cared about, of being alone, of feeling criticized constantly or nagged, of communication being very difficult and too many arguments that never reach resolution, and of lack of intimacy both sexual and emotional. This is where we would probably use the EFT way of working. I encourage you to read the attached article on EFT as it explains this way of working very well.

If couples have made a decision to part already, then we would look at how they might part well, keeping the best interests of any children at heart. Alongside good legal advice, which I always recommend to people, we can often work out agreements regarding the care of children, how property is to be divided and other financial arrangements. This is where my many years as a mediator come in very useful.

Individuals

The issues I most commonly work with include: managing stress and anger, feeling that life has become meaningless, feelings of low self confidence, being stuck in old patterns of behaviour, searching for inspiration or direction, having difficulty with life transitions like redundancy, separation, grief over the loss of a loved one, or working out a healthy and happy work/life balance. All normal and natural things that we all go through and just sometimes need some professional help with. It can be invaluable to have someone along side, helping us explore the issues, our thoughts, feelings and behaviours and help us to discover our own insights and answers.

Mediation

The majority of my experience has been, and is, with Landlord/Tenant disputes and also in the context of the counselling framework in the Family Court . However, my training is very broad based so I am able to work with people with workplace problems, family disputes, neighbourhood issues and so on.

Contact and arrangements

Titirangi and New Lynn
Phone: 021 126 0420

Email: helen.bennett01@gmail.com

The fee for couple work is $145 (up to an hour and quarter), for individuals $120 (1 hour) and my fee for mediation depends on the circumstance.

Generally, I can fit people in within a couple of weeks of a request. Please call or email me if you have any questions about me or my practice.