Positive change from some timely help
Do you have concerns about your child’s behaviour, self-esteem, anger, anxiety, or general state of mind? It’s not uncommon. And it can cause a lot of stress to your whole family. A little help at the right time can make a big difference.
How can I help?
I’m a fully qualified, Registered Psychologist from the North Shore of Auckland with 30+ years’ experience working with children and their families in U.K. and N.Z. But I’m very much young-at-heart – I have the ability to relate to young children and teenagers, to put them at ease and help them to tackle their issues.
A bit more about me
I’m from England and have two boys (mad on soccer like me), so I know just how tough parenting can be!!
What happens if you bring your child to see me?
I’ll chat with you at the beginning of each session, then work individually with your child, then meet with you to discuss next steps.
How will I work with your child?
Well, much depends upon the situation and the age of your child. But, to give you some idea, here are some general guidelines: In the first session, the most important thing is to put your child at ease – to begin to build a relationship.
Early on, I am also looking to discover what your child wants to get out of seeing me. With young children, I use a lot of activities such as drawing and simple pencil-and-paper activities to find out how they feel about themselves, their families, school, etc… and how they think the key people in their lives view them.
Older children and teenagers sometimes have more insight into their situations and may be able to engage in more conversation. But some find it hard to talk openly so they need help to express their feelings by other means, e.g. drawing, writing or their responses to guided activities.
What age-range do I work with?
I work with school-aged children, typically 7-16.
How many sessions will I need with your child?
After 3 sessions (or earlier) I should be able to give you a summary of ‘where things are at’ for your child and whether there are particular issues that need to be addressed. At this point I’ll let you know whether I feel I can help further or whether I need to refer you to someone more specialized in a particular area.
Specialist Topic – Children & Screen Time
This seems to be the number one issue causing conflict at home between parents and children. I have researched this topic in depth and can provide advice and guidance to parents to help you navigate this tricky issue with your child.
I also offer a presentation ‘Children and Screen Time – What You Need To Know’ to parent groups, schools and community organisations. Contact me for further details.
Contact me by phone (027 249 2817) or e-mail [email protected] … I’m happy to chat with you about your child
Services
Services include:
- Psychological Assessment
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Self-esteem building
- Educational Assessment
- Behaviour Management
- Problems at School
Services
Services include:
- Psychological Assessment
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Self-esteem building
- Educational Assessment
- Behaviour Management
- Problems at School
I took my 17 year old son to see Mike. I was recommended him from a friend who had also taken her child to see him. He has allowed my son to have a more realistic view of himself and the challenges in the world around him. He is now able to identify his own personal triggers he is conscious of how he feels and what he can do to change how he may be feeling. My son is remarkably happier and pushing himself into environments where he lacked confidence to go before. I am extremely grateful for the practical guidance and support Mike has given him.
Carlene
After years of struggling to change our family dynamics, I recently looked to trying out counselling for my two sons (ages 10 and 13) to sort out long-running sibling rivalry. It was causing tension and escalating into destructive behaviour, which was having a huge negative effect on the enjoyment of our family life. Mike ran weekly sessions for both boys separately helping them to process and understand their behaviour and the payoffs in changing their relationship. The counselling has been successful and both my sons and the family are enjoying the results of their improved relationship and interactions. I highly recommend Mike to other families who are struggling to deal with issues related to family and personal dynamics. We found Mike to be very approachable and my children enjoyed their sessions with him.
Jo