Career experience
I work exclusively as a couples' counsellor, and refer any requests for individual counselling or coaching work on to other professionals.
I am grateful for an unusually varied career - one that has been personally and professionally enriching. It falls into three phases:
Early career – 15 years in the Catholic church
Including 11 years of full-time study and training, four of those as post-graduate study in Rome and Paris, and significant pastoral care and counselling-related training and experience as a priest.
(Note for anyone who might be 'put off' by this religious background - I am no longer a practising church-goer at all, and this part of my background plays no part in my counselling.
And note for others: sometimes people for whom faith or spirituality is important, deliberately choose to come to me because of my church background, study and experience, hoping that I will have a good understanding of a Christian or other spirituality/faith perspective which many counsellors do not have - and it usually works pretty well.
Middle career – 20+ years in business
Including being the senior person in charge of computing/IT in 3 organisations: the international chemicals company ICI, the Reserve Bank, Dept of Internal Affairs; and 5 years as a principal consultant with global consulting and accounting firm KPMG.
Current career – counselling and couples' therapy
After 2000 I changed my focus initially to some executive coaching (including with the Government Leadership Development Centre) and counselling; and then progressively to counselling only, including:
- From 2010 I had my own practice as part of Counselling and Psychotherapy Associates in Thorndon. This is now closed and I am now working from my home in Waikanae.
- Full Member of NZ Association of Counsellors.
- Approved Family Court counsellor for 4 years - until major change in focus of funded work.
- Internationally certified as an EFT therapist - and specialising in couple work since 2009 and exclusively couples since 2012.