Margie Upson | Counsellor

Counselling Otaki - Levin - Waikanae

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Feeling lost and unsure of direction?  Has life just gone through a big change?

My name is Margie Upson. My practice is in Otaki, just in the middle between Levin and Waikanae, about 14 minutes drive by car from Levin and Waikanae. 

I'm a professional member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) and the 

Association of Christian Spiritual Directors (ACSP), Aoteoroa.

I have been working as a counsellor in private practice for 7 years. However, I have been involved with the care of people for 10 years prior to that.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Counselling, Laidlaw College, 4 year programme, completed 2010

• Spiritual Directors training, Spiritual Growth Ministries NZ, 2 year programme, completed 2016

• Certificate of Traumatology,  Traumatology Institute, Toronto, Canada, 10 paper programme, completed 2016.

About me

I came to counselling through working with people with HIV/AIDS  for 10 years in Nigeria.  I began my training at that time to be more equipped to support.

I then specialised in working with those who have experienced trauma, spending a further 2 years in France, debriefing and counselling cross-cultural workers, many of whom had sone through traumatic events.

I still work as a debriefer with those returning from service overseas; e.g. embassy or business personnel, aid and development and mission people, and their transition back to their passport country.

I have a grown-up family and am a grandmother of six.

Therapy 

I use the well-researched and beneficially proven Cognitive Behaviour Therapy along with Mindfulness and some Narrative Therapy in my counselling.

You're welcome with a range of issues, such as PTSD, burnout, life transitions, relationship problems, anxiety and grief. I further specialise in trauma, Cross-cultural issues,spirituality, spiritual abuse.

As a counsellor, I believe people are experts in their own lives, but that at time we all need some support when life becomes overwhelming or we get "stuck". 

I work to build a mutual relationship where I can jointly work with you on the issues that brought you to counselling. I believe you can be strengthened by therapy to live a live of purpose and meaning.