We offer low cost counselling
Palmerston North Methodist Social Services provides a confidential and professional service to families, couples, individuals and children aged over 8. Our intakes are OPEN - email us at
Counselling provides a safe space to explore issues or problems which may be acute or historical in nature because sometimes we feel stuck or dissatisfied with our situation in life, or we may be seeking support and affirmation.
Professional counselling provides an opportunity for us to find and expand the answers we seek.
Counselling can be hard work
Counselling at PNMSS is oriented for change. It is a process that invites you to engage with yourself in relation to what is going on for you. Counselling hopes to open up pathways to you towards a better life, whatever that might mean to you.
Counselling can be hard work. It can be challenging. It can also be supportive, non-judgemental, life changing, and an empowering experience. We are here to help you achieve your goals.
What might I discuss in Counselling?
Issues you might bring to counselling include (but are not limited to)
- Relationships, including how to relate better to a partner, what you want out of a relationship, separation/divorce issues including day-to-day care of children, and power and control issues;
- Grief and loss, including issues around death, loss of a relationship, suicide of a family member/friend, loss of goals/job/lifestyles, grief issues for children;
- Family, including family therapy/healing, parenting, how to relate better as a family;
- Stress and anxiety, including employment issues, time management, behavioural problems;
- Confidence issues, including self esteem, how to feel better about oneself, dealing with conflict, and communication;
- Trauma; and Anger.
Counselling sessions are by appointment, and are usually 50 minutes to an hour.
Variety of counselling modalities
The counselling team may provide a variety of counselling modalities with a focus on what suits you. However, irrespective of the modality, the counsellor is not doing something to you but working with you.
Modalities include:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy;
- Narrative;
- Solution Focussed Therapy;
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy;
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy;
- Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy.
The Counselling Team includes:
Brenda Hill - Team Leader - I see counselling as a journey that I take with clients, from where they are now to where they would like to be. To do this, my main task is to create a space of safety and acceptance and “walk” alongside people, so that issues can be explored, possibilities can emerge, and steps can be taken. Underpinning my work is a holistic framework – an understanding that all parts of ourselves are important, inter-related, and have a role to play in the journey of growth and change – Spiritual (Wairua), Hinengaro (mental and emotional), Tinana (physical) and Whanau (Social). My approach is hope fuelled and strength based, and I work from the premise that every person is of worth and value and has the potential for change, healing and wholeness. Contact Brenda at
James – James enjoys working with people as they navigate and grow through life’s experiences. The approach is person centred so the client gets to choose their goals and what they want to work towards. The counselling sessions are a safe space to be heard and supported while building awareness and discovering new tools, thoughts and resources for facing the hard stuff. James also offers relationship counselling. James has trained in strength based, Narrative Therapy, IDT (Interactive Drawing Therapy) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).
Please use the below information to contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
663 Main Street Palmerston North
Phone: 06 3500307 |
