Meet the team

Annette Nichols, Counsellor

Annette Nichols

Counsellor

  • As a person-centred practitioner, Annette aims to create a supportive and collaborative space and to identify and build on client’s strengths to make meaningful change in their lives. Utilising a relational and integrative framework, she draws on a range of theories and tailors her approach to best suit the client’s needs to foster and support change. With a real appreciation for a client’s resilience despite adversity, Annette is passionate about helping people expand their skills to thrive.

    Her previous experience mentoring youth and working alongside people with disabilities led her to return to study for a Bachelor of Health Science in Counselling. Counselling experience includes working with children, young people, and adults struggling with anxiety and depression, self-esteem, relationship dynamics, trauma, grief, identity, and life transitions.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Bachelor of Health Science in Counselling

    • Provisional Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Tuesday | 11.00am - 6.30pm

David Legg, Counsellor

David Legg

Counsellor & Supervisor

  • I have worked as a counsellor since 2002 and was drawn to the work through my own wish to heal around neglect, grief and loss. I now support others on their journey to self love and healing with empathy and compassion.

    I am a Certified Imago couples therapist  and enjoy empowering couples to deepen their intimacy through learning skills to connect and better handle ruptures that occur in their relationships.

    I have worked for many years for CADS in the addiction field and am passionate in my support of clients as they make changes to their lives and let go of unhelpful coping skills.

    I have studied psychodrama for eights years and have recently been certified as a level 1 IFS practioner which adds to my skills of working with my clients inner worlds as they develop healthier inner relationship with themselves.

    • Addictions

    • Couples therapy

    • Grief

    • Loneliness

    • Depression and anxiety

    • Communication

    • Self esteem

    • Attachment issues

    • Spiritual coaching

    • Mindfulness

    • Life direction

    • Dreams

    • Supervision

    • Diploma in Counselling and Family Therapy

    • Human Development & Training Dream Leadership Certificate

    • Margaret Bowater Workshops

    • 8 years study undertaken with Auckland Psychodrama Training Centre

    • Certified Imago Relationship Therapist

    • Full Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Tuesday | 11.00am - 6.30pm

Nina Hawkins, Counsellor and Creative Arts Therapist

Nina Hawkins

Counsellor & Creative Arts Therapist

  • As a qualified Creative Arts therapist, Nina employs a holistic approach to therapy, utilising creativity and the innate ability of art to communicate emotions and transcend unconscious barriers. She fosters a safe, playful, and supportive environment for clients to explore and transform their inner and outer worlds. Nina has been trained in a number of trauma-informed models, including Mauri Ora approaches, clinical creative therapy models, neurodiversity, spiritual accompaniment, and talk therapies.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Couple Counselling

    • Family Counselling

    • Child Counselling

    • Adolescent Counselling

    • 1st Class Honours Masters in Creative Arts Therapy, Whitecliffe

    • Diploma Professional Coaching, SIT

    • Monday | 9.00am - 4.30pm

    • Tuesday | 11.00am - 6.30pm

    • Wednesday | 9.00am - 4.30pm

Anjali Mistry

Triage counsellor & Counsellor

  • I hope to create a warm and compassionate space where clients feel safe to share and explore their experiences openly. I hold the space with humility and deep respect for the courage it takes for clients to be vulnerable, as well as honouring the challenges they have faced and supporting them as they navigate healing and growth across different life stages.

    As a person centred counsellor, I creatively draw from a range of therapeutic modalities, to best support the unique needs and goals of each individual. Being a younger counsellor has helped me connect authentically with youth and young adults. I draw from both lived experience and professional training to support them through developmental stages and identity exploration.

    I am deeply interested in how societal expectations, cultural beliefs, and ways of living have evolved across generations, and how these experiences interact within family systems and relationships. Growing up between cultures has deepened my appreciation for the diverse experiences people hold. I am passionate about creating an inclusive and culturally safe space for clients of all backgrounds. I hope to reconnect my clients to the unique strengths and values they hold, to empower them through challenging times.

    • Individual Counselling

    • 3rd year Bachelor of Health Science Majoring in Counselling, Auckland University of Technology

    • Student Affiliate of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

  • Triage Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

    Clients: Friday | 9.00am to 4.30pm

Frances Sullivan, Counsellor

Frances Sullivan

Counsellor

  • Frances retrained as a counsellor in 2006, bringing a wealth of life experience and a strong background in psychology to her practice. She is passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and believes in the beauty of life, despite its occasional pain and sadness. Frances feels privileged to support people during their difficult times.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Couple Counselling

    • Family Counselling

    • Diploma in Family Therapy and Counselling

    • BA in Psychology

    • Full Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Monday | 9.00am - 4.30pm

    • Tuesday | 9.00am - 4.30pm

Jane Mudford, Counsellor

Jane Mudford

Counsellor

  • Jane is passionate about supporting her clients through the challenges they are experiencing. She draws from a range of theories and approaches and adapts these to best meet the needs of the people she works with, providing ideal ways of relating and problem-solving. Following her client’s lead, she aims to identify and build on clients’ strengths and interests to help people achieve their goals, and find authenticity, fulfilment, and peace.

    She has experience with children, adults, and families who are struggling to adapt to: life’s transitions; living with anxiety; chronic health concerns; disability; grief; and neuro-divergence. She can also help with relationships, parenting, and identity concerns.

    Jane is a bicultural, New Zealand mum of two young teenagers and three fur babies.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Couple Counselling

    • Family Counselling

    • Child Counselling

    • Post Grad Dip Counsellilng, Auckland University

    • Studying for a Masters in Counselling at Auckland University

    • Provisional Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Thursday | 9.00am - 4.30pm

Bobby Catterall

Bobby Catterall

Anna Harrison, Counsellor

Anna Harrison

Counsellor

  • Anna (she/her) opens up a warm and welcoming space for people to reflect on their experiences and explore their difficulties, challenges, and joys together. She takes a person-centred approach to working with clients, listening deeply and with compassion, and draws on a variety of therapeutic models to see what might work best for each person. Anna is particularly interested in Internal Family Systems and creative approaches to working — but mostly, she is interested in people. This comes in part from her background in journalism — she brings a love for hearing people's stories, an awareness of how social and systemic factors affect individuals, and a deep sense of appreciation for the creative ways people survive and grow, even in impossible circumstances.

    Anna is also Northspan Wellbeing’s triage counsellor, ensuring clients are supported through their process into our counselling service.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies, AUT.

    • Currently working towards a Master of Counselling at Auckland University.

    • Provisional Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Thursday | 10.45am - 6.45pm

Gemma Neuendorf

Clinical Manager

  • Gemma has a teaching background prior to training in counselling, which has added a lot of value to her work with families in the counselling arena. Gemma engages well with a wide range of people facing equally diverse challenges.

    She provides a supportive, empathetic environment in which she will work collaboratively with clients to explore their concerns and together clarify goals and find solutions, harnessing all existing supports.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Couple Counselling

    • Family Counselling

    • Child Counselling

    • Adolescent Counselling

    • Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) - Counselling Major, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

    • Full Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Riley Cook, Student Counsellor

Riley Cook

Clinical Support Lead | Counsellor
Student Counsellor

  • Bobby (they/them) creates a warm and approachable space where people can arrive as they are — with their struggles, questions, hopes and joys. As a skilled third-year AUT counselling student, they work from a person-centred approach, listening with care and compassion, and trusting in each person’s innate wisdom and capacity to grow. Bobby offers a steady, relational presence that supports people to feel safe enough to explore what matters most.

    Their work is shaped by a background of over a decade working in inclusive community facilitation and brief intervention counselling, as well as a deep awareness of how colonisation and systemic forces impact our lives. Bobby values sitting with the intersections of identity - gender, sexuality, culture, whānau. As a tauiwi parent of two, Bobby feels most alive outdoors or in the water. They believe healing is both personal and collective, and are committed to supporting movement toward greater freedom and belonging for all.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Child Counselling

    • Adolescent Counselling

    • 3rd year Bachelor of Health Science Majoring in Counselling, Auckland University of Technology

    • Student Affiliate of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

  • Monday | 9.00am to 4.30pm

  • Riley (he/him) is a counsellor with two years of experience in the field and is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling at the University of Auckland. Most of his work has been as a supervisor on a helpline supporting children and young people aged 5 to 19. Before moving into counselling, he worked as a social worker in South Auckland, walking alongside children and families through times of challenge and change.

    In his practice, Riley draws on a range of approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Pluralism, and Narrative techniques. He enjoys working with people from all walks of life and has a particular passion and depth of experience in supporting children and families.

    When he’s not working, you’ll often find him enjoying the outdoors—usually with his puppy in tow—exploring the bush or wandering along the beach.

    • Individual Counselling

    • Family Counselling

    • Child Counselling

    • Adolescent Counselling

    • BA (Hons) Sociology, University of West England

    • Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Theory, University of Auckland

    • Provisional Member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

    • Wednesday | 9.00am - 4.30pm

    • Thursday | 10.30am - 6.30pm

    • Friday | 9.00am - 5.00pm