Christine Thomson

I will support you to come up with new solutions to your concerns, based on what you value most. This may involve healing hurts, addressing patterns that don’t serve you well, or reconnecting with people in your life. I have 30 years experience and specialise in creative therapies and couple-work.

Areas of Special Interest

• Couples Therapy
• Sleep
• Depression
• Grief
• Creative arts therapies
• Mindfulness
• Life direction
• Life Purpose
• Spirituality
• Forgiveness
• Anxiety – including Worries about the state of the environment

Further info can be found on my website.

Counselling/Therapy Services

Individual Therapy – Whatever it is that you struggle with, it is important to understand what drives your patterns and also what it is you value. Identifying and re-shaping problematic thoughts and beliefs can make a major shift, and may allow for courageous choices. Lasting change may sometimes require looking sensitively at the past, and healing from hurt or loss. Finding meaning day to day, and developing a place of calm takes practice , and has been valuable for the families I’ve been alongside.

Couples – I am passionate about helping couples restore their love and respect for one another, and resolve things that have got between them. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a structured approach that allows couples to understand their distress, and build new patterns of relating based on a close connection.

Creative Therapies – The innate creativity in everyone can point us to unconscious facets of ourselves, and can channel and transform emotional energy. Interactive drawing therapy utilises both sides of the brain to explore and unfold unique solutions.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

With all clients I hope to help you live life with more vitality, satisfaction and peace. The work can be relaxed and fun, and works with both head and heart. My training includes:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Narrative approaches
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
• Interactive Drawing Therapy

Individuals – I view each person as unique, with strengths, even if they struggle to see them. I support people to develop their own solutions within the context of their culture, values and relationships.

Couples – The EFT model has 30 years of research, revealing better outcomes than any other couple intervention. 75-80% of couples move from distress to recovery. I will draw from other models as needed.

Background and Experience

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, District Health Board (DHB), 11 years
• Hospice – 11 years using creative therapies with groups, individuals and families.
• Relationship Services and Alcohol and Drug programs
• Lecturing in Counselling and Health Psychology and running various training programs.

Supervision Services

I have provided Supervision to other counsellors over the past 12 years. I continue to update my professional development in this area. See my website.