Marian Hammond

Sometimes in spite of all our efforts we cannot change our lives by ourselves. It can be immensely helpful to have someone reliable and constant to listen carefully, take us seriously and join forces to understand what trips us up.

Marian Hammond is a registered Psychotherapist and Counsellor based in Ponsonby Auckland. She provides a professional therapy service for individuals, couples, and groups, and supervision for other practitioners.

Working together in a gentle, yet active way I aim to help you to identify what is limiting you in creating the life and relationships you want. We will discover what makes you feel stronger and more equipped to deal with whatever concerns you are facing. You will expand and deepen your view of yourself and learn new ways of relating to others.

People see Marian to address a variety of issues including:

• life changes
• grief and Loss
• depression and anxiety
• anger and expressing feelings
• low self esteem
• difficulty saying “No”
• lack of self confidence
• repeated patterns of stuck behaviours
• sexual abuse
• childhood trauma and abuse
• sexual identity
• boarding school trauma
• relationship difficulties
• building life after separation

Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy

Counselling has a strong focus on listening, exploring and identifying strategies to solve problems. Counselling tends to be more present-day focussed. Psychotherapy aims to improve a person’s health by increasing their awareness and acceptance of themselves. This increased self understanding is gained through giving attention to both conscious and unconscious processes, discovering how the past plays into the present.

Couples Counselling

I adhere strongly to the belief that a committed relationship is a context in which significant growth can be achieved by each person. As a couples therapist I am interested in understanding the unique dynamics of familiar patterns of relationship discord, for example, conflict, disappointment, isolation and sexual difficulties. Developing an understanding of these underlying forces paves the way for change. Couples can expect to learn effective ways of communicating and to build on the strengths in their relationship. I work in a structured way using Imago Relationships Therapy.

Personal Development Groups

I offer therapy groups and workshops using the psychodrama method to facilitate full exploration of significant areas of life. Psychodrama is an inspirational and creative approach that can help you identify what limits and liberates you in the pursuit of your dreams and practice new ways of living and being in relationship with others.

• Freedom to Fly – creative weekend workshops for women living with the effects of sexual abuse >> find out more

Supervision

I provide supervision for practitioners wanting to reflect on their work in community agencies, mental health settings, education and private practice. I am also available to students for supervision. Consultation and training for practitioners in ‘Working with Shame’ is also available.

About Marian

For many years I have worked with people in the facilitation of their personal growth and change. The foundations of my practice are in the Mental Health Service where I was employed as an occupational therapist and psychotherapist in various multidisciplinary teams. I have specialised in working with people who have suffered various traumas including sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. I have a particular interest in working with the painful experience of shame and have written and taught on this subject.
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I have an interest in combining the two therapeutic approaches of psychodrama and psychodynamic psychotherapy. As a psychodramatist I trust in the capacity of the individual, couple or group to find creative new responses that strengthen themselves and their relationships. I believe understanding, compassion and acceptance are key contributors to change. For over a decade I was intensively involved in counsellor training as a tutor and director of the Human Development and Training Institute. Subsequently I have taught in the AUT and WelTec Counselling Programmes.