OUR COUNSELLING SERVICE
Client Testimonies:
“I felt seen, heard, and supported throughout. I felt safe to open up and reveal my true self. Has been a life saving experience. Thank you.” 2024
“This is an incredibly warm, supportive, important service you’re providing. Especially when it may have been unobtainable for me to seek help through other channels.” 2024
“I never felt before, how it can feel to be completely myself in session.” 2024
NWC offer a confidential, low-cost counselling service to women and non-binary people of the region. No external agency referral is required.
We have a wide range of student and recent graduate counsellors available for 10 sessions for an affordable price.
Counselling Prices 2025:
Our costs are increasing in January 2025 in lieu of receiving adequate funding for our counselling service in 2024-2025
We will be trialing a new pricing tiered system to be able to pay our graduate counsellors a percentage to support a living wage.
All prices will be 50% lower than market rate to continue accessibility to our community and if these aren't affordable to you we can have a chat about a sliding scale approach or a referral to a free service.
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Student Counsellors |
$40 per session |
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Graduate Counsellors |
$70 per session |
WINZ support is available for payment of graduate counsellors, you do not need to be on a benefit to receive this support, however there are some requirements, have a look here: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/health-and-disability/counselling.html
You’re welcome to pay more if you wish, all proceeds go towards the running of the centre and will be considered a donation.
To talk further please contact counselling@nelsonwc.org.nz or 03 546 7986
The Referral Process:
This is a 15-20 minute discussion to gather some information to pair you with the most suited counsellor.
- A phone call or in person meeting is available.
- We will get some basic contact details from you for our record.
- We will ask some more sensitive questions to see if you should be paired with a more experienced counsellor or referred to free specialist services. You are welcome to not answer any questions you are not comfortable with.
- There will be a chance to discuss why you would like to come for counselling, this can be as detailed as you want to share.
- We will ask some questions around culture to better pair you with a counsellor that aligns with your values.
- We will discuss payment with you. We do not want this to be a barrier to accessing counselling, please let us know and we can search for a suitable service for you if our prices are not affordable.
Ngā mihi nui.
Some of our Staff & Counsellors for 2025:
Ashlyn Hornsby: Centre Coordinator - Counselling Referrals
(She/They/He)
Kia Ora, my name is Ashlyn. My ancestors are from Lebanon and Great Britain. I grew up in Ōtautahi and made the move to Te Tau Ihu around 2018. I have been with Nelson Women's Centre (NWC) for about 5 years now. I started as a student counsellor and grew to love the community here, so much. During counselling referrals, I like to use a peer-support approach with a focus on making things as comfortable as possible for people. Referrals can be taken in person or over the phone.
I have a dog, Grendel, who you may see working hard comforting guests at Whare Wāhine.
My previous experience lies in drug harm reduction and education, coordinating a peer-support volunteer initiative at outdoor music events, counselling the rainbow community, mental health and addictions respite, and consent culture advocacy. I have a done leadership training with the Canterbury University Leadership Scholarship programme. I have a Bachelor of Counselling from NMIT.
Cath Clarke: Bachelor of Counselling
My name is Cath Clarke, I joined the Nelson Women’s Centre in 2020. I hold a Bachelor of Counselling degree, and I am a Provisional Member registered with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. I am passionate about working alongside women to navigate through their difficulties.
I have a caring, calm nature and place trust in a collaborative relationship within counselling. I believe counselling brings about positive change, creating growth in one’s life. The approaches I use are a person-centred approach, solution-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy. I work alongside the client to assist them to bring about change, to reach their desired goals, and to help challenge negative thinking, also bringing mindfulness techniques into practice to improve client wellbeing.
Noa Vodnizky: Bachelor of Counselling
Kia Ora, I am Noa, a registered counsellor (NZAC) and a proud member of the NWC Counselling team. I am here to support you in managing life's changes; through loss & grief, in establishing healthy boundaries, walking towards healing from trauma, support through separation or with any parenting challenges, and am now also offering couples therapy, here at NWC.
My life experience as a woman, a mother, a daughter, and a global citizen had led me to believe in our inherent capacity to know ourselves and what is best for us, and in our ability to foster meaningful relationships and develop self-awareness, self-compassion, care, and love.
As a counsellor I am committed to providing a safe, supportive, and judgment-free space for you to pause, reflect, explore, and move forward, increasing resilience, self-acceptance, self-awareness, & self-love.
Samantha Delgarno: Senior Counselling Student
Kia ora, my name is Samantha (she/they). I am a student counsellor currently in my third year studying the Bachelor of Counselling at NMIT and am a volunteer counsellor at the Nelson Women’s Centre as part of this study. I have a gentle, affirming and holistic approach to counselling.
I have a background in holistic health as a qualified Meditation Teacher and abdominal massage/bodywork therapist specialising in reproductive health. Prior to moving to Whakatū Nelson to study, I spent some time living and travelling in a campervan around Aotearoa New Zealand. I have a particular interest in working with women, the rainbow community and neurodivergence (autism, ADHD etc).
Emma Newcombe: Senior Counselling Student
Kia ora, I’m a Pākehā South Islander, and a third-year counselling student at NMIT. Gentle curiosity and openess are central to my counselling approach, and our sessions will be structured around your needs and goals. I’m here to support you to share, understand, and process life’s challenges. We can work together to find solutions, new ideas, or the emotional shifts that make life easier for you.
I welcome any problems or aspirations you wish to bring to our sessions. Particular interests of mine include relationships and attachment, migration and racism, workplace challenges, environmental grief, and long covid. I have counselling experience with youth and adults. I am also happy to work in Spanish if you prefer.