Shirley Thorby

Kia ora,

My name is Shirley Thorby, I identify as Pakeha, originally from the Waikato region. I have lived in the Manawatu region for 30 years. I have been counselling in a professional capacity for 20 years.

I believe people often seek counselling when they feel stuck in life. As a counsellor I seek to provide a safe space in which people are truly seen and heard. I believe the counselling relationship is a sacred space. I feel that it is an honor to be invited to walk alongside people as they seek to navigate their way through their own challenging and often painful journey.  I provide confidentiality, respect, genuine kindness and empathy.

Counselling Services

I believe that unresolved issues affect the entire body, not just parts of it. I believe that early experiences in life can shape how people navigate their way through relationships. Behaviors that create emotional and relational stuckness are often survival responses that reach back to attachment relationships. These survival behaviors can get in the way of living a fulfilling life. Therapy will help you to deepen your understanding of yourself, and to process internal conflicts, intense emotions and learn new behaviors and ways of thinking about yourself and others that are healthy and life enriching.

I provide counselling for individual adults and adolescents. I also provide counselling for relationship issues for couples, and between parent/caregivers and adolescents as I am aware this developmental period can be a difficult time for families.

I offer counselling that adheres to the NZAC code of ethics, which includes confidentiality within the parameters of safety and ethical practice.

I welcome people from diverse backgrounds, values, beliefs, cultures, abilities and age groups.

Counselling Approach

My counselling approach values kindness, empathy, connection and creativity. I endeavor to be culturally sensitive and attuned in my work and life. I seek to align my values and my practice to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to foster heart connections with Tāngata Whenua.

If you choose to engage with me, I will listen to the issues you bring with compassion and non-judgment. I will help you to find your way forward out of your place of stuckness. I am currently  a Bioenergetic Therapist in Training with the New Zealand Society for Bioenergetic Analysis. My counselling approach draws on several therapeutic approaches depending on what feels right for you. These are Bioenergetics Analysis;  Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT), Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interactive Drawing Therapy.

Background and Experience

I have provided counselling for people aged from 7years to 80 years all of whom have possessed unique diversity in culture and abilities. I currently provide counselling for people aged from 12 to 80+ years.

Previously, I have worked for counselling agencies counselling school aged children, adolescents, couples, families and individuals. The main issues/ focus of my work has been recovery from trauma; relationship issues; life/change development and transitions; anxiety, depression, grief; anger and work/life stresses. In the last several years, part of my private practice has been as a provider for ACC Integrated Services for Sensitive Claims.

I am committed to ongoing learning. Currently, I hold the status of Bioenergetic Therapist in Training under the New Zealand Society for Bioenergetic Analysis