Harmony Counselling Service
A Counsellor You Can Trust
About Me - Counsellor Gaye Mallinson
I was born in central west Queensland, Australia and have lived much of my life in most states of Australia. After visiting the beautiful country of New Zealand on holiday in 2014, my husband and I moved here shortly afterwards with our pet cats.
After exploring New Zealand, living in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, we have chosen to settle in Christchurch City, enjoying its climate, vibrancy, and diversity.
In my career, I have accrued an extensive and vast range of experience in various clinical medical backgrounds, having worked as a nurse for most of my life as well as serving in the military, in the medical core.
I have also worked in the ambulance service, community-aged care assessments team, and had various other medical roles before retraining as a Counsellor. I have achieved an Australian Diploma of Counselling as well as a New Zealand Bachelor of Social Services (Counselling) with Distinction.
Since moving to New Zealand, I have worked in the specialty areas of both family violence and sexual violence with clients who have been harmed as well as clients who have caused the harm.
I also trained as a Restorative Justice Practitioner and Facilitator with speciality endorsements gained in both family violence and sexual violence.
Animal Assisted Therapy or 'Pet Therapy' is a growing area of therapy where animals are utilised within your therapy sessions to support increased comfort and engagement, reduce stress levels and encourages communication when feeling anxious in session.
You may choose to have either 'Maggie' a Poochon Dog or 'Molly' a Burmese Cat in your sessions to gain the additional benefits of pet therapy.
I am trained in many methods of therapy approaches including somatic based therapies, pranayama breath work techniques and trauma informed yoga (based on the Yin and Restorative styles). I can teach you many various emotional regulation skills where this may be of benefit for you also.
I maintain current memberships with the following professional bodies;
- Full member of New Zealand Association Counsellors (NZAC)
- Level 4 member with Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
to ensure ongoing professional development and professional supervision.
I work in my private practice, Harmony Counselling Service with a consulting room to see clients at 50 Croziers Rd, St Albans, Christchurch. I also provide online Telehealth services for your convenience - we can arrange to undertake your sessions via Skype, Teams, Facetime or telephone. If by phone, I will call you to avoid any call costs to you.
As an ACC Approved Provider for Sensitive Claims, you can access fully funded ACC counselling with me due to sexual harm you have experienced in New Zealand (and in certain circumstances while overseas). I can lodge the claim on your behalf so you don't need to have contacted ACC beforehand. I will explain the process in our first appointment so you can decide if you would like to continue or not. There are several options you can access including either a set number of short term therapy sessions or sessions provided over a longer term. You can also stop therapy at any time, and resume again in the future as you need the support. Don't worry...Not everyone one wants to talk in detail of the sexual harm they have experienced which is completely okay - I will support you to work on the issues that are impacting you now, that you feel are important for you, in moving forward with your life positively.
I also facilitate ACC fully funded Trauma Informed Yoga Group Therapy courses for clients who already have an existing and accepted sensitive claim, and are currently seeing a ACC Sensitive Claims approved therapist. Courses are run in school terms four times per year for 9 weeks each. You may choose to complete Level 1 Yoga (Beginners Yin & Restorative styles), Level 2 (Intermediate Yin & Restorative styles) Yoga or, Yoga Nidra (Relaxation/Meditational style) courses. In each course you will also learn various emotional regulation skills to further support mood management. These classes are all available online, as well as in person in Christchurch city.
I am able to offer a set number of free sessions if you are an employee and eligible for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counselling with Benestar, Raise, Instep and Vitae through your employer.
I can also offer a set number of fully funded sessions if you have been impacted by being a victim of a serious crime including sexual violence (if you are unable to access an ACC approved sensitive claims therapist) or natural disaster, via a Victim Support Victim Assistance Scheme (VAS) referral.
As an accepted Counsellor with the Cerebral Palsy Society, Cerebral Palsy clients can access a set number of funded sessions as they provide payment.
If you have a child diagnosed or being treated with cancer, the Child Cancer Foundation can provide a set number of funded sessions to provide therapy support during such an emotionally challenging time.
If you are under 25 years old you may wish to access a limited number of fully funded child, youth and young adult sessions from Gumboot Friday New Zealand via I Am Hope.
I can also provide subsidised sessions for eligible WINZ or StudyLink clients, low income earners or students.
Feel free to call me to discuss your particular needs and book an appointment to get started on making the changes to your life that you desire.
'Maggie'
The 'Poochon' Dog
Maggie is a Poochon (Bichon Frise & Miniature Poodle) dog and she loves her pet therapy role. She has a very soft nature, loves pats and being cuddled while on your lap or, will just as happily lie on her pet mat close by, if you wish for her to support you in your sessions.
'Molly'
Red Seal Point Burmese Cat
Molly is a Burmese cat who enjoys her pet therapy role. She just loves to sleep on one of the therapy room chairs and roll over on her back to have her belly rubbed while she purrs. She also loves to watch the wild birds out the window and play with her favourite toy when she's not asleep!
