Louisa Woods Counselling

Tūngia te ururua, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke – Clear away the undergrowth so the new shoots of the harakeke can spring up.

I am a qualified, experienced counsellor with twenty years experience working with people in the education and health sectors both here in Aotearoa, and overseas. As of February 2025, I am bringing my counselling practice to Christchurch, having moved here with my family from Marlborough. Alongside my practice, I also work as a lecturer on the Massey University Masters of Counselling programme.

I can offer you a warm, safe, non-judgmental space so that you can explore your thoughts and feelings and examine the things in your life that have and are affecting you. By working in partnership, we can clear a path towards a more fulfilling, rich life.

I enjoy working with people, and supporting them in whatever journey they may be on. I feel it is a great privilege to have people share their stories with me.

Counselling Approach

I believe that people are not problems. We all have problems or challenges at various points in our lives, but they do not define who we are. We are more than our hard stuff, more than our thoughts and feelings, more than anything that has happened in our life.

I also believe that people are born with enormous potential and retain the power, throughout their lives, to make choices and changes so they can live in a way that feels meaningful for them. We are the experts in our own lives, and we know best what a fulfilling life looks like for us. 

I am also committed to working in a way that is respectful and safe for people of all genders, sexualities, cultures, neurotypes, abilities, and backgrounds. That is not about treating every client the same, but about learning about and respecting each client’s needs, ways of communicating and working, and adjusting the way I work to best suit them. We might be very different, but mutual respect and a willingness to listen and learn means we can work together effectively.

In my work with clients, I draw from a range of different theories, in particular Narrative Therapy, and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I also take a neurodiversity-affirming stance in my work.