Mana Practitioners College offers creative solutions for organisations, health professionals and counsellors in their search for effective ways to assist people. Roy proposes a new kind of training for practitioners which builds on their knowledge of themselves in their own country and their unique skills. He does not suggest a method and prefers to draw on the potential in each person. "Method misses the person. The application of someone else's ideas or the use of manipulative instruments in the helping environment prevents immediacy and authenticity in relationships”.

Roy is available as an educator, key note speaker seminar leader, consultant and supervisor to organisations, staff groups, international forums and community groups. He has been an invited speaker at World Congress for Psychotherapy events in Vienna, Buenos Aires, Beijing and at the World Congress in Sydney 2011. Roy was a keynote speaker at the PACFA conference in Melbourne in 2012 and at the Australian Association for Somatic Psychotherapy (Sydney 2013). His papers are available by writing to manaconsultancy@paradise.net.nz See also the contact box to the left of this web page and 'Papers to read' on the second page of this site (click on yellow box at left of this main page)

Being a client in New Zealand

Making a decision

Professionals in New Zealand have a good reputation through history and are highly motivated to assist you with care and sensitivity. Most accept the view that your wishes are paramount and ‘the way you want to  change’ is the prime consideration.

Note: From January 2009 all professionals using the title "Psychotherapist" must be registered with the newly established Psychotherapist's Registration Board of New Zealand. See http://www.pbanz.org.nz


MAKING AN APPOINTMENT:

It is advisable to make a first appointment and see whether the professional (or their approach) suits you. You may want to take a support person with you to the first appointment. There is no reason why you should not meet one or two counsellors or therapists first before deciding who establishes the most effective relationship with you.

Counsellors and psychotherapists in Aotearoa advertise their services in a variety of ways. It is important the service you receive is based on a healthy personal relationship with the professional you have consulted. Most helping professionals believe that the person and the way they view themselves comes first. The management of any difficulties is woven into therapy keeping the person in focus. Other counsellors and therapists are ‘method specific’ or ‘issue specific’ and this means you will be ‘counselled’ according to the specific training the professional has had.

Specialist services

There are specialist services available for specific difficulties. It is important to check whether the counsellor or therapist has the required training in specific arenas before working with them on an issue or problem. Issues such as violence in the home, sexual abuse, addictions, or family separation may be best managed by someone who has specific training or experience in these areas. Ask your counsellor or therapist to tell you their history with regard to training or experience for important issues. If that is not easy for you to do ask your general practitioner to question the professional you are about to see.

Individual, couple or family services

You can access counselling or therapy as an individual, a couple, or as a family. Traditionally one counsellor is available to see one or more persons. In most agencies (or private practices) resources do not stretch to having more than one counsellor present. In some family based services (particularly those which make family therapy available) two counsellors often see the family together. While couple counselling can be highly successful with one counsellor present there are real advantages in having two counsellors and often it is important to have each gender represented by the counsellors.

It is possible to ask for two counsellors to be present but bear in mind that most agencies will have difficulty providing this service due to limited financial resources.

My view is that it is preferable for a couple to have two counsellors present and when families are in therapy it is even more important for there to be more than one therapist.
In situations where culture is important more than two people may want to attend the sessions and your health professional or counsellor can provide facilities for this to happen.

Children and Young Persons

Children and young persons are often referred to counselling or therapy services. The most important question to ask before this happens is whether the child is being seen as ‘the problem’ because of their behaviour or their expressed feelings. Usually the ‘problem’ is ‘systemic’ which means the influences of the parents, siblings, school, or peers are crucial in the way the child is feeling or behaving. My view is that parents need to present for counselling first, discover more about the way they relate together and review their parenting agreements before deciding to place a child or a young person in counselling, therapy or treatment. It is seldom the case that a child or young person is the ‘cause’ of any difficulties. The causes lie in the system, the environment and the whole of life setting within which the young person lives. Make sure you obtain a variety of opinions regarding any interventions suggested for a child or young person as they may not have access to choices which can only be made when all information is to hand. Having said that, there are highly skilled child psychotherapists and counsellors who can help children and young people face changes, trauma, and challenges in ways that parents or other people cannot manage.

Counsellors who are members of the NZ Association of Counsellors or the NZ Association of Psychotherapists may assist young persons.
(See also the note above regarding registration from 2009)
Ask them to describe their training and experience in working with young people. Counsellors and social workers in schools are able to assist young people and their families within school communities and can usually access helpful agencies to refer young people or families to. For children and young persons, psychotherapists who belong to ‘The New Zealand Association of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists’ have had specialist training, adhere to a code of ethics and have helpful links with other professional groups.

Professional Issues

For adults, counsellors and psychotherapists who are registered with NZAC or NZAP are the most appropriate to see as these professionals are bound by a code of ethics and there is a complaint system in place for clients.
http://www.nzac.org.nz or http://www.nzap.org.nz

(Complaints regarding psychotherapists are now managed through the registration board mentioned above)

You are entitled to see copies of the codes of ethics and complaint systems. You are also entitled to have fee structures explained to you, receive receipts for any fees paid and make your own decision as to how many sessions you need. If you wish to have support persons present ask about arrangements for this to happen. If the counselling or therapy is about relationships you have with people ask whether those people (for example partners) can be seen with you and expect the focus in those sessions to be on the way the relationship functions more than a focus on specific 'problems'. Ensure each partner feels they are being given equal attention in the counselling process.

Sessions with counsellors and therapists begin with a careful listening time which allows you to tell your story in detail. Then the professional is there to explore ways ahead with you and help you make your own decisions.

Your counsellor or therapist may be trained in a ‘method’. Methods on their own do not make the difference. What makes the difference is the relationship between counsellor and client. Ask for techniques or methods to be explained and ask why the counsellor or therapist believes those techniques will make a difference to your particular situation. Before taking part in a method based approach find out exactly what you are being asked to do, whether you can have a support person present and whether you can first speak with someone who has been through a similar process. You may want to consult the internet and read different assessments of the method being used.

My belief is that each person has the potential to change and, unless there is some neurological, ‘mental’ or physically centred impairment present, people can be helped through the establishment of effective relationships with counsellors or therapists. A healing relationship will eventually help you discover your own resources for change and a new quality of life. The healing relationship that eventually moves you forward may be with a professional person. On the other hand it may be with someone you know and trust who is close to you in other ways.

Psychiatric services are available and counsellors and therapists are trained to refer you on to a mental health professional if they decide with you that your difficulties may need medication or you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else. Mental health professionals may provide therapeutic services alongside medication. When consulting mental health professionals ask for clear information about each step in the process and ask to see any records kept regarding your progress. You can also ask to see referral letters containing information about you.

Confidentiality is paramount in all services and it is important to ask for copies of referral letters and reports made about you at any stage in the helping process. Confidentiality may be put to one side if there is a risk of harm to you or another person and your counsellor or therapist will explain that process to you.

New Zealand counsellors and therapists are required to have an annual practising certificate, be in supervision with a colleague and keep up membership in their associations.

Culture

Cultural differences are in focus in Aotearoa and if your culture is different from that of your counsellor or therapist it is important you expect them to take that into consideration and be culturally appropriate and sensitive. Culturally based resources should be taken into consideration as these may be significantly helpful. Counselling or therapy from someone within your own culture may also be available if you do some research through NZAC or NZAP.

Your life

You do not need to have a specific problem or issue before consulting a counsellor or therapist. You may want someone to listen while you celebrate something in your life. You may just feel vaguely uneasy. If you do, your counsellor can help you discover more information leading to understanding feelings of confusion, stress, loss or lethargy.

If your health professional asks you to attend sessions regularly or at defined intervals (such as weekly) ask for the reasons behind such planning. You may want to attend some sessions this year or this month and some the next. Use therapy at your own pace and take charge of the way you want to be helped.

It is important you are in charge of your own healing process and your future.   A. Roy Bowden

Roy is one of two Australasian representatives on the Board of the World Congress for Psychotherapy. See the link to the World Council in the left hand column of this web page. Roy's keynote paper at a regional WCP Congress in Canada in 2003 titled "Choosing to Cross by Sea" has been an encouragement to health professionals working cross culturally and can be downloaded by clicking here.
Other papers are available by contact through the box to the left of this web page.

The World Congress for Psychotherapy was held in Sydney, Australia in August 2011. The Congress was jointly hosted by the New Zealand and Australian Associations of Psychotherapy. The Congress theme, 'World Dreaming' reflected an interest in the way traditional therapeutic approaches can meet with cultures in the South Pacific. The next conference is in Durban in 2014.

“A Psychotherapist Sings in Aotearoa”, the book at the top of the web page, has been reviewed as "The best book of its kind to come out of Aotearoa-do not miss this book" (George Sweet, New Zealand counsellor and consultant)
The book was published in 2001. It is a textbook in counsellor training programmes and contains a new perspective for therapists and other professionals.
To order Roy's book e mail Roy at caroy@paradise.net.nz.

Book price: $30.00 NZD plus postage. Published by Caroy Publications, 31 Sunset Parade, Plimmerton, Mana, New Zealand