therapy

Therapy is a supportive space where children, young people, and families can talk about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a trained professional. It helps them better understand what’s going on for them, learn new ways to cope with challenges, and build confidence and emotional resilience.

For children and young people, therapy may involve talking, creative activities, games or practical strategies to help them express themselves and manage emotions such as worry, anger, sadness or overwhelm. For parents, therapy can also offer guidance and support in understanding their child’s needs and strengthening family connections.

Therapy is not about fixing someone – it’s about supporting growth, wellbeing and positive change.

EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people process and heal from difficult or distressing experiences. It is commonly used to support children, young people and adults who have experienced trauma, anxiety, fears or upsetting memories.

Sometimes the brain gets “stuck” on an experience, meaning the feelings, thoughts and body reactions connected to it, don’t settle on their own. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories in a healthier way, so they become less distressing over time.

During EMDR, the therapist guides the client to briefly focus on a memory while using gentle bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping or buzzers. This helps the brain process the memory safely and naturally.

Many people find that after EMDR, the memory is still there, but it no longer feels as upsetting or overwhelming.

Our therapist Laura can provide EDMR to both adults and children.

You can find out more about EMDR via the EMDR Association NZ www.emdr.org.nz

See this YouTube link for a further explanation of how EMDR works.

Occupational Therapy

A Paediatric Occupational Therapist supports children and young people with the everyday things that can sometimes feel hard - whether that’s getting dressed, managing big feelings, keeping up at school or feeling confident in their bodies.

They take the time to understand each child’s unique strengths and challenges, and work alongside families to build skills in a gentle, practical way. This might include supporting emotional regulation, coordination, sensory needs and daily routines. They also support children with neurodiversity (such as ADHD or Autism), helping them better understand themselves and navigate the world in ways that work for them.

The goal is to help children feel more confident, capable and able to take part in the things that matter to them - at home, at school and in their wider world.

Psychologist services and Assessments 

A Child and Family Psychologist is a trained professional who supports children, young people and their families with emotional wellbeing, behaviour and development. They take the time to understand each child’s unique strengths and challenges and work alongside families to provide practical, supportive guidance through both therapy and assessment.

Child and Family Psychologists can also carry out ADHD and Autism assessments, helping to build a clear understanding of how a child learns, communicates and experiences the world. These assessments involve gathering information from parents, teachers and the child, and provide helpful, practical recommendations to support them both at home and at school.