Emma Fursman

I have been a registered mental health practitioner for the past 14 years and have worked as a counsellor, a trainer and mental health specialist. I have experience working in GP practices alongside medical staff, in alcohol, drug and addiction services and with family and youth services. I have also worked within corrections and with the Capital and Coast DHB.

Everyone has challenging situations. Even if you have coped pretty well in the past there is nothing wrong with seeking extra support when needed. Having insight into realizing you need a hand every now and again is to be admired. The counselling I provide can give you the tools to avoid triggers and overcome work, personal and relationship challenges.

I specialize in working with:

Children: Childhood anxiety, adjusting to new siblings, day-care and preschool problems, relationship problems with other children, food issues, anger issues.

​Primary and Secondary School Students: Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety issues including social anxiety and relationship issues with peers, LGBTIA+, gender and sexuality issues, bullying and social media problems, sleep problems, acne, skin and weight issues, family relationship problems, bulimia and other compulsive behaviours, anger issues, goal setting.

​Young and Older Adults: Anxiety including work burn out, depression and low mood, sleep problems, anger management, alcohol, drug, gambling, pornography addiction ​, bulimia and weight issues, family relationship problems.

My Philosophy

Each age comes with its own stressful life events and the size and frequency of these often determine whether our path through life is a rocky or smooth one. A difficult childhood can take its toll and can make the transition to into adulthood even harder than it already is. Untreated ongoing stress can cause; chronic anxiety and worry and deep feelings of sadness and depression. It can take its toll on our sleep, our appetite and drive us to self-medicate the pain or turn to behaviours we may feel are too difficult to control. ​Not feeling happy or relaxed can also make relationships difficult and effects not only the people we live with but others at school or in the work place as well. Left un-treated feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness and feeling trapped can result in feeling like there is never a way out.

​I can assure you there is a way out and through and even over if need be. I can provide some of those road maps and with counselling help make coping with those speed bumps more bearable. ​I understand the value of privacy and confidentiality. You can be yourself with me and I don’t judge.
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I work with parents of young children who are struggling, primary school children, teenagers and young adults, adults and older adults 65 years+​.​

About Me

My first degree was in business and I was the director of my own accounting practice for a number of years. I started my training in mental health in 2007. In the past 14 years I have worked as a counsellor and delivered training and education in a number of mental health services. These include Employee assistance Programmes, Addiction treatment centres and GP Practices. For the past two and a half years I have worked for the Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley Health Boards in the area of Suicide Prevention and Postvention and Traumatic incident management.

Supervision Services

Professional supervision functions as an emotionally safe space that, in turn, promotes critical reflection and has a positive impact on health workers emotional well-being. This supervision provides support and guidance for the management of personal and professional demands that are created by the nature of the work.