Athena Hemming | Relationship Counselling

Relationship Counselling Upper Hutt - Hutt Valley

My name is Athena Hemming. You're welcome for relationship counselling and couples counselling in Totara Park, Upper Hutt.
 

It is often a crisis of some sort that forces us to take stock of what we've experienced, to process and find the full value in who we are and what we've gained, to find acceptance and more peace. The way I see it we are constantly growing, learning and changing until the day we die.

By nature, I am a roll-my-sleeves-up-and-get-stuck-in kind of woman. From the first session I always try and give something concrete to take away and practice or think about. Sessions are an active process for me where I'm open to giving as much as my clients, (when appropriate). I share ideas, techniques and beliefs, and it is your choice what you take away and what you discard. I will probably question, challenge and clarify with you the perceptions and understandings you have about your life and life in general. If you want to discover more about yourself and why you act and feel in a certain way let’s unite our efforts! 

Since we are all in relationships... with other people; with places; with plants and animals; with our computers, phones, cars and of course our families... communication is key. The words we use, and emotions attached to those words,  shape our whole world and all the connections we have.  I love the subject of communication. I'm quite passionate about it! In fact my whole life I have been passionate about communication. These days, being present with personal growth and strengthening heart qualities are what I seek.

Why work with Me?

To cut a long story short I've had loads of experiences. Some of them more common, others very unusual. For instance I was lowered into a huge crevasse so that other people could practice ice rescuing. To this day I still can't describe that adequately. My therapy started at 16 when I left school to go to university to study psychology. I knew I needed help and desperately wanted to change. After achieving academic qualifications I realized that I was more of an experiential learner and so  set about getting as many experiences of therapy and growing as I could over many years. So having been alive since 1960 I have accumulated a useful number of skills and understandings. I am whole-heartedly attracted to increasing consciousness and love every moment of everyday! 

Who: Relationships and Individuals.

Whatever the reason, I will assume a client wants change. I work with people from all walks of life, from students to executives, pensioners to plumbers, business owners to full-time mums. People come to me for a variety of reasons including feeling sad, or stressed, or having reached a crisis in their life, or after months of feeling misunderstood in a relationship. I see many couples; from those who are basically doing OK but want to refresh their communication skills to those who are about to break up and want to tick the “We’ve tried everything box”! Oh! and I really love working with young people (15-20).

Whatever the troubles  I see everyone as a whole human being (with strengths, weaknesses, potentials, fears, wounds and  skills etc). I've been trusted with many experiences by clients over the years from being abducted by aliens (Who am I to say this didn't happen) to some pretty abominable human behaviour. Some have called me gullible,  I prefer the word  open :-)

I always follow up at the next session. The more clients think about what we discuss in sessions, or try out new ways of behaving, the more they will get out of our time together. If a client comes once a fortnight (this might be what they can most comfortably afford), there will be work to do in between sessions digesting, integrating and deepening what we have talked about.

People don't always come to me because they are in crisis. Let me use an analogy: think of me as a book. A resource. For instance, parents contact me to ask if I can help their young people (children) with life. The subject of concern might be bullying, it could be anxiety, it could be a medical event. As an outsider I can say things that friends or family might be afraid to say for fear of hurting a loved one. I can offer  perspectives that might never have been thought about before. They are put on the table as ideas that can be taken or left, with no pressure. But I am better than a book because I have an automatically self-adapting user interface! I will naturally adjust to those I'm sitting with to try and offer the most relevant approach! There :) The most modern and up-to-date technology available: a real human with heart and humour.

Note:If you are using weed more than socially, sessions will only help if you stop for the duration of us working together.