Chantelle Hurst

Creative Life Healing Counselling Services 

I recognise that everyone brings their own experiences, strengths, challenges and ways of understanding the world. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, therapy is adapted to the individual and what feels meaningful and useful for them.

For some people, talking through their experiences is helpful. For others, working with an animal, working creatively, learning practical regulation strategies or getting out of the therapy room can make therapy more accessible.

I work collaboratively with each person to find approaches that suit their needs, personality, goals and stage of life.

Who I Support

Children 10+ | Young People | Women | ADHD & Neurodivergence | Trauma & Complex Trauma | ACC Sensitive Claims

My approach is collaborative, practical and focused on creating a safe environment where clients can develop understanding, coping strategies, emotional regulation, confidence and positive change.

Sessions Delivered:

• In-Person (Tuakau/Pukekohe)
• Online
• Mix of both online and In-person (flexible to the clients’ weekly needs)

Services:

• Private Practice Counselling
• ACC Sensitive Claims – Lead Provider
• ADHD Counselling and support
• Animal Assisted Therapy – bring your own dog
• EAGALA Equine Therapy
• Creative Expressive Therapy

Therapeutic Approaches:

I draw from DBT, CBT, ACT, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), REBT, Creative Expressive Therapy, Solutions-Focused Therapy and Equine Therapy, adapting the approach to each person's individual needs, goals and preferences.

Animal Assisted Therapy  - Bring Your Own Dog

ACC Adjunct sessions available 

For clients who find animals calming, regulating or helpful within the therapeutic process.

You can bring your own dog to sessions, where appropriate. Through Animal Assisted Therapy, we use dog training, bonding and communication techniques therapeutically to help you work towards your counselling goals.

Sessions may involve learning how to understand your dog's behaviour and communication, building trust and connection, practising boundaries, developing calm and regulation, and using positive reinforcement and training techniques. These activities become part of the therapeutic process, helping you develop skills that can also be applied to your own emotional wellbeing.

The goal is not simply to train your dog, it is about developing your dog as a source of connection, support and regulation for you. Together, we work towards building the skills and relationship that can help your dog become your own personal therapy companion while addressing your individual therapeutic goals.

EAGALA Equine Therapy

ACC Adjunct Sessions and Groupwork - Currently on hold, waitlist available. 

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy using the EAGALA model, incorporating horses into a therapeutic environment.

Equine therapy can provide an experiential way to explore emotions, relationships, boundaries, communication, confidence and patterns of behaviour.

Creative Expressive Therapy

ACC Adjunct Available (Groupwork is currently on hold) 

Therapy incorporating creative and expressive activities where talking alone doesn't always feel like the best way to communicate or process an experience.

Creative approaches may include art, visual activities, writing, metaphor, movement and other expressive techniques.

Therapeutic counselling with your dog as part of the process.

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) incorporates your own dog into counselling to support emotional regulation, connection, confidence, communication and therapeutic goals. Sessions combine counselling with dog training, bonding and positive reinforcement techniques, using your relationship with your dog as a therapeutic tool.

Rather than simply training your dog, we work together to develop your relationship, communication and understanding of each other, while building practical skills that can support your wellbeing.

What We Can Work On:

• Depending on your goals, sessions may include:
• Building trust and connection skills
• Increasing self-awareness
• Learning to communicate clearly with your dog
• Positive reinforcement and reward-based training
• Calmness and regulation exercises
• Boundaries and respectful interactions
• Confidence and communication
• Managing frustration and emotional responses
• Developing routines and consistency
• Strengthening the human–animal bond
• Using your dog as a source of grounding and emotional regulation
• Practising mindfulness and staying present
• Exploring attachment, relationships and connection
• Developing coping strategies through practical activities with your dog

Your Dog as Your Therapeutic Companion:

A key part of this service is helping you develop the skills and relationship needed for your dog to become a reliable source of comfort, connection and regulation for you.

We can work on practical behaviours and training skills that may help your dog respond to you in supportive ways, for example, settling beside you, responding to cues, staying connected with you during stressful situations, or participating in calming activities.

The focus is not on producing a formally certified therapy or assistance dog. Instead, we are working therapeutically with you and your dog as a team, using training and bonding techniques to support your counselling goals.

Animal Assisted Therapy may be suitable for:

• People experiencing trauma or complex trauma
• ADHD and neurodivergent clients
• People experiencing anxiety or emotional overwhelm
• Clients working on emotional regulation
• People wanting to develop confidence and communication
• Clients who find traditional talking therapy difficult
• People who have a strong bond with their dog and want to include that relationship in their therapeutic work

Private & ACC:

Animal Assisted Therapy is available through private counselling and may also be incorporated into ACC Sensitive Claims counselling where clinically appropriate and within the approved treatment plan.

Sessions remain counselling sessions, with your dog incorporated as a therapeutic component of the work.
Bring your own dog. Build your connection. Develop your skills. Work towards your therapeutic goals together.