About Mark
Gestalt Therapist and counsellor
BSc, DC, PG Dip Med Ed, PG Cert Gestalt, MGestalt, NZAC (prov.), GANZ.
Seeking help is a
courageous step.
Picking the right therapist can be a daunting task… So who am I?
I am a heart-centred, gentle, and relational Gestalt therapist. I provide a truly safe space where we can explore together, with kindness and compassion, what brings you to therapy. The first step is often the hardest… reach out.
I am a father of five (four of my own and a stepson), with two dogs, seven chickens, and an incredibly tolerant and compassionate partner. I am lucky, or cursed (weather-dependent!), to live on a lifestyle block near New Plymouth. I am a Gestalt Therapist and counsellor with a Master’s in Gestalt Psychotherapy and over 45 years of experience working in healthcare in the UK, Germany, and NZ.
And I am really passionate about helping you take back control of your life, to become more connected and whole, and to give yourself permission to be who you truly are.
I am a provisional member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) and a member of the Gestalt Association of Australia and New Zealand (GANZ).
Starting therapy can be daunting, and it is not always easy to find the right therapist. Feel free to contact me for a free 15-minute friendly conversation to see if we are a good fit for each other.
What is Gestalt Therapy?
No single life event, personality trait, or psychological diagnosis defines you. Gestalt therapy acknowledges the complexity of who you are (mind, body, and spirit), your situation, and your life story. During therapy, we focus on what is happening for you, here and now, and how this is influenced by past experiences.
Gestalt therapy is a heart-centred, relational talking therapy, which has a solid theoretical stance, backed up by current research and developments in neuroscience. It holds that problems can arise today from the stressful situations and experiences of the past that you weren’t able to fully or safely deal with at the time. You developed coping strategies, attitudes, and beliefs that were understandable or necessary at the time. However, this can result in ongoing patterns of behaviour and ways of relating that now seem out of place or don’t serve you, and separate you from your true self.
“Counselling can be great for dealing with the immediate practicalities and day-to-day issues, offering coping strategies and advice. Gestalt therapy is for those looking to take a deeper dive into the underlying issues, offering longer-term relief or resolution.”
How Does Gestalt Therapy Work?
Gestalt therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental, and compassionate environment in order to increase self-awareness, foster self-acceptance, and develop good relationships, as these are considered key to healthy, personal growth. This increased awareness of what is holding you back allows you to recognise and process old patterns, “unfinished business”, and move on.
Alongside agreed goals, each session is a unique and co-created collaboration between you and me, focusing on what is present for you at the time. We use verbal and non-verbal communication cues, and a variety of active, experiential techniques to increase your awareness of how your past influences the here and now. This allows you to truly accept where you find yourself and to take back control and responsibility for your situation.
Can I help?
Gestalt therapy can help you with a wide variety of issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Grief and loss
- Relationship issues
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Behavioural, anger, or addictive issues
- At a crossroads or simply wondering what life is all about
Together we can help you to help yourself… reach out.
“Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them”- Albert Einstein
Mark’s Qualifications / Affiliations
- Master of Gestalt Therapy M.Gestalt (Brisbane, Aus)
- Post Graduate Certificate in Gestalt Therapy PG Cert. Gestalt (Brisbane, Aus)
- Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) Provisional
- Provisional Member of Gestalt Association of Australia and New Zealand (GANZ)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Education P.G.Dip.Med.Ed. (Dundee, UK)
- BSc Chiro, D.C. (Bournemouth, UK)
- Multi-Disciplinary qualification in Laboratory Medicine (Army, UK)
- Paramedic (Army, UK)
Appointments
I offer an initial free 15-minute conversation, for us both to get a feel for whether I am a good fit for you and that we can work together. From there, we can book an appointment. Rest assured that what we discuss is strictly confidential. Confidentiality and informed consent will be covered in more detail before and/or during our first session.
I am available both in-person and online.
Intake form
Once you make the decision to start on your therapy journey, you will be sent an intake form to complete before your first session. This form is strictly confidential and will only contain your contact details, a little bit about you, and what you would like to explore.
Sessions
Sessions are around an hour long. Payment can be made via bank transfer or cash.
Confidentiality
Your personal information and what we discuss during sessions remain strictly confidential. I adhere to the NZAC professional code of ethics and do not divulge
information or contact anybody without your permission. That said, as part of my ongoing professional training, and for your well-being, I do need to discuss with my supervisor aspects of the therapeutic process, but there is nothing present that will identify you. There are, however, both legal and ethical, specific circumstances where I am required to share information with a third party. I will endeavour to discuss this with you beforehand, where possible or appropriate. These include situations where there is significant potential for harm to yourself or others. Please follow the link to the NZAC ethics page https://nzac.org.nz/site/about-us/code-of-ethics if you require more detail, and I am, of course, happy to discuss any concerns with you.
Please provide your details using the form below, and I’ll be in touch to arrange your appointment.
Reach Out
I provide a compassionate and safe space for those seeking clarity, healing or hope