Counsellors New Zealand is a directory and booking platform for private practice counsellors based in Aotearoa. Counsellors charge for their sessions, and you choose your own, reading their profile first, then booking online by Zoom or phone, or in person in some New Zealand locations.
We started in 2022 to make finding and booking counselling simpler. This page explains who we are, how the directory works and what we are not, so you can decide whether it suits you.
Who is Counsellors New Zealand?
Counsellors New Zealand (counsellors.co.nz) lists private practice counsellors who are based in Aotearoa. They work with clients in New Zealand and around the world. The directory is for adults and couples who want to choose their own counsellor, and for counsellors who want to be listed.
We began in 2022 with a simple aim: to make it easier to see who a counsellor is, how they work and what they charge before you get in touch. Each counsellor runs their own practice and sets their own fees, so the site is a place to find and book them rather than a single service with one way of working.
If you have a question about the site itself, you can reach us through the contact page.
Why we believe in choosing your own counsellor
Counselling tends to work best when you feel understood by the person you are talking with. That is why we built the directory around choice. You can read about a counsellor’s experience and approach, then decide whether they feel like the right fit.
Many people are used to being assigned to someone without much context. Here you can compare profiles in your own time, ask a counsellor a question before booking, and move on to someone else if the first person is not right for you.
Some counsellors offer a short introductory conversation. Whether one is available is shown on the counsellor’s profile, so check there before you book.
How does the directory work?
You can browse profiles on the find a counsellor page. Each profile shows the counsellor’s approach, how they work with clients, and their fees and session lengths.
From a profile you have two options. Use “Ask a question” to contact the counsellor first, or “View pricing & book” to book a session.
- Online sessions are held by Zoom or phone, from anywhere in the world.
- In-person sessions are available in New Zealand. Listed locations include Christchurch, Taupiri, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Feilding, New Plymouth, Cambridge, Gisborne, Raglan and Southland.
- Fees and session lengths are set by each counsellor and shown on their profile.
Funding through ACC and Work and Income
Some people can have part of their counselling costs covered. ACC Sensitive Claims counselling is available after sexual abuse or assault, and Work and Income can help with counselling fees and travel through the Disability Allowance. Eligibility is decided by ACC or Work and Income, not by us.
Counsellor profiles show their ACC role, whether they work in person or online, and whether they are taking referrals. You can use the ACC Provider Map to look for ACC providers, and our WINZ counsellors page explains the Disability Allowance route.
Funded fees are paid to the counsellor, so it is worth checking the current requirements with ACC or Work and Income before you begin.
What we are, and what we are not
Counsellors New Zealand is an independent directory and booking platform. We are not ACC and we are not Work and Income. We are not an emergency or crisis service, and the site is not suited to people at high risk of harm.
The self-reflection questionnaires in our tools section are prompts for thinking about yourself. They are not diagnoses. A counsellor can talk through anything you find there.
Our articles are written by counsellors. Writing on Māori cultural topics is written by our Māori counsellor, and we leave those subjects to them.
For counsellors who would like to be listed
If you are a private practice counsellor based in Aotearoa, you can apply to be listed in the directory. Counsellors who work with ACC or Work and Income clients can set up a profile that shows this, through the ACC and WINZ directory profile page.
Clients and counsellors can also read our client service policy and practice agreement to see how sessions and bookings are handled.
Ready to look?
Take your time. Read a few profiles, notice who you feel drawn to, and ask a question if you are unsure. There is no pressure to book straight away.
When you are ready, start with the find a counsellor page.
Common questions
Who is Counsellors New Zealand for?
It is for adults and couples who want to choose their own private practice counsellor, and for counsellors who want to be listed. Counsellors are based in Aotearoa and work with clients in New Zealand and around the world.
Do counsellors on the site charge for sessions?
Yes. Listed counsellors are in private practice and charge for sessions. Fees and session lengths are shown on each profile. ACC- or Work and Income-funded fees are paid to the counsellor.
Can I have sessions online?
Yes. Sessions can be held by Zoom or phone from anywhere in the world. Some counsellors also see clients in person in New Zealand locations shown on their profiles.
Is Counsellors New Zealand part of ACC or Work and Income?
No. We are an independent directory. ACC and Work and Income decide who is eligible for funding, and our profiles show whether a counsellor works with those routes.