Carolyn McILraith

Seeing a counsellor can feel like a challenging step to take but it can be a rewarding one. Together we will work towards identifying what is stopping you finding fulfilment in your life and develop a way forward.

Areas of Special Interest

• grief and loss
• anxiety
• depression
• post-natal depression
• pregnancy loss (including miscarriage, stillbirth and abortion)
• relationships
• work issues
• sex and sexuality
• chronic illness
• guilt and shame
• trauma and self-esteem/self-image issues

Counselling Services

I am caring and compassionate. I want the best for my clients, whatever that might be for them. We will work together to build your strength, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.

I enjoy taking an active role helping people find different ways of thinking about their life and the discourses that are impacting on them. This leads to new options for relating to their world. Combined with developing new skills they can implement during challenging experiences, my clients find themselves feeling more settled and secure.

Teens and Young People:
Will find that I am real and fun. I don’t have preset ideas about what is ok in your world and take the time to understand your unique situation. I can help you analyse the choices in front of you and develop the skills to consider your different options and manage the outcomes – good and bad.

Counselling Approach

I like to see people empowered to live their own lives. We’ll start with where you are at, what you want to get from the counselling, and how you want to see that work for you.

To help you I am skilled with a range of tools and am flexible in my approach, drawing on models such as client centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, and solution focused therapy.

People find me down to earth, readily able to relate to them and their world, and appreciate my capacity to be real with them.

Background and Experience

I have been working as a counsellor for more than 10 years. During this time, I have been privileged to work for a variety of organisations helping people of all ages and cultures with a broad range of issues. I have been a counsellor at the Ante and Post Natal Distress Group; Wellington People’s Centre; Vibe (Youth Health Service); Te Mahoe Unit (pregnancy and termination issues); and as an EAP counsellor helping adults with workplace and personal issues. I now bring that varied experience to my private practice in at the top of the Cable Car in Kelburn.

Prior to becoming a counsellor, I worked in the Corporate sector and understand the challenges of achieving both your professional and personal goals in this environment.

Supervision Services

I offer supervision to counsellors, counselling students and allied health professionals.

In supervision we will reflect on practice and processes undertaken in your work. We will look at effective and ethical practice and the impacts that workplace relationships may have on your work.