Need to talk?
Silence, secrecy, and shame can isolate us from the care and connection we need. I offer a space where you can feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure, as we explore your experiences with curiosity and compassion. Together, we’ll work to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and help you find a path toward healing. Whatever you are facing, you don’t have to go through it alone.
Maya AngelouThere is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
About
Kia ora! My name is Lisa, and I am a daughter, wife, mum, and mental health therapist based in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
I meet my clients with warmth, acceptance and respect, offering personalised support grounded in science and compassion. My approach integrates cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), schema therapy, and attachment-based models, especially when working with developmental trauma or relational wounds. I consider the whole person: your biology, psychology, social world, and personal history.
Two Ways of Working
Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Some seek a structured map to understand deep-seated patterns, while others need a supportive space to breathe and reflect. I offer two distinct pathways designed to meet these different needs. Neither is “better”; they simply serve different goals.
Structured Intervention
For those seeking a deep psychological understanding of their difficulties and a structured treatment plan.
- Root causes & maintaining loops
- Formal written formulation
- Goal-oriented intervention
Fees
$185/hour
Additional charge for assessment report and treatment plan
Counselling
For those seeking a safe place to talk, reflect, and process current life stressors or changes.
- Focus on “what’s on top” for you
- Gentle perspective-building and insights
- Flexible duration (short or long term)
Fees
$145/hour
Read More About Intervention
The Intervention Pathway
Unlike standard counselling, the Intervention option follows a defined sequential structure to ensure clarity and focus.
1. Assessment Phase (Sessions 1-3): We investigate your history, symptoms, current context, and identify recurring emotional, cognitive and behavioural patterns. This may involve psychometric measures to, for example, gain insight into your schemas and attachment style.
2. Formulation:
I synthesize our findings into a written formulation report. This describes the predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors maintaining your current struggles, offering a compassionate, logical explanation for your difficulties and giving insight into treatment targets. The report is yours to keep.
3. Treatment Plan. From your formulation I design a specific, individualised, goal-oriented treatment plan, drawing on evidence-based interventions.
4. Structured Intervention. Weekly intervention sessions begin, guided by the plan. We work actively to disrupt old patterns of behaviour, challenge unhelpful beliefs and alleviate your symptoms.
Location & Hours
I work in a shared counselling space on Main Street, Upper Hutt, alongside a registered counsellor and an educational psychologist. Sessions are by appointment only, on Mon-Thurs and Saturdays.
Limitations of Service
There are a few areas where I may not be the best fit
Diagnostic Assessments: Although I have a background in clinical psychology, I did not complete my PhD and therefore am not a registered psychologist. This means I am unable to provide diagnoses (e.g. PTSD, OCD, Intellectual Disability, Autism, ADHD). If you are seeking a diagnosis for yourself or your child, your GP can refer you to public health, or you can search for a registered clinical psychologist or psychiatrist online. For assessments of Specific Learning Disabilities like dyslexia, I recommend seeing a Registered Educational Psychologist such as my colleague Wendy Ryan at ZigZag Psychology.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): I am open to working with clients who have a diagnosis of BPD, but I do not provide Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which is the gold-standard treatment for this condition. I would always recommend working with a clinician who specialises in this approach, particularly because the group-based skills component is so valuable for building emotion regulation skills, addressing self-harm and reducing suicidality.
Autism Spectrum Support: If you are autistic or seeking therapy for autism-related challenges, I recommend contacting Autism New Zealand to connect with a clinician who has extensive experience in neuroaffirming care. While I can help you explore the underlying factors contributing to anxiety and depression if those are present, the most effective support will come from someone who works deeply in this area and can offer tailored strategies informed by specialised expertise. In the meantime, I highly recommend The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery: Flourishing as a Neurodivergent Adult by Sol Smith.
Couples Therapy: I do not offer joint sessions with couples. If you and your partner are seeking relationship therapy together, I recommend working with a therapist trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an attachment-rich, evidence-based approach for improving relationship connection and closeness. I also recommend Sue Johnson’s book Hold Me Tight, and any educational videos or books by Terry Real.
ACC/EAP: I do not currently hold a contract with an ACC or EAP service provider and cannot offer funded sessions. I am considering taking on ACC work in late 2026.
All counsellors and psychologists should engage in regular supervision. I am supervised by Registered Clinical Psychologist, Lucy Reynolds.
Lisa Silva 