Introduction:
Whether you’re seeking clarity, emotional support, or new coping strategies, counselling can be a powerful way to navigate life’s challenges. Finding the right time and method to start can make a huge difference. Here at New Beginnings Therapy, I offer both online and in-person sessions, with flexible booking options to fit your unique schedule and needs. It couldn’t be easier to book your first Counselling session. Just go here and book an online or in-person session now.

1. Why Consider booking a Counselling session?

If you’re new to counselling or revisiting it, it’s natural to have questions. Counselling provides a safe, confidential space to explore your thoughts and feelings, develop new perspectives, and work through specific issues or transitions in life. Online and in-person options mean you can choose what works best for you, whether it’s from the comfort of home or face-to-face in a welcoming environment. My online sessions are all via zoom and my in-person sessions are all at Highland Park Community House in Auckland.

My specialty for some time is helping people to build their best possible relationship with themselves and best possible relationships with others. Counselling can help with many things though and much tends to become interrelated. Do feel free to reach out to discuss what it is specifically you would like to work on and we can discuss if I can help. It’s never been easier to book your first counselling session and get started with me.

See the link here about things Counselling can help with. Is there something here which particularly stands out to you ?

2. The Benefits of Flexible Online Counseling

Life can be hectic, making it difficult to find time for self-care. Online counseling offers flexibility, allowing you to have your session wherever you are. Many clients find that virtual sessions are more convenient, helping them fit mental health support into their busy lives. Research has shown that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy, so you can feel confident about making this choice.

3. How to Book a Counselling Session

Booking a session is straightforward and designed to make it as simple as possible. Here’s how to get started:

• Step 1: Visit our booking page where you can choose a convenient time.
• Step 2: Select the type of session you’d like – online or in-person.
• Step 3: Complete the booking form, and you’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details you need for your session.

4. Counselling session availability and Counselling packages

If the calendar is free and you are keen to book a one time session feel free to go right ahead. If the calendar is open then so am I although I will message you about any issues. My best value offers are my packages of sessions which I do in packages of 10 or packages of 5. These are great to give a discount and also to do focussed work on a specific issue.

Some people do like to dive into a package straight away but typically people tend to book an individual session first. I do find that having an individual session first can ensure the rapport is definitely there and you do feel great about continuing into a package. If you do want to go straight into a package though do send me a mail or give me a call and we’ll have a bit of back and forth just to make sure it’s right for you

5. What to Expect in your first Counselling Session

For many, the first session is an opportunity to talk about your current situation, set goals, and get to build rapport. We’ll work together to create a comfortable environment and work to gain insight into what is going on for you and what you’d like to get from Counselling.

Ready to Take the First Step into Counselling?

I’m here to support you whenever you’re ready. You can book your first counselling session directly through this link, or reach out with any questions at:

• Email: philip@newbeginningstherapy.co.nz
• Phone: 0210 583 234

Taking the first step can be the hardest, but it’s also the most empowering. I look forward to supporting you on your journey.

All the best

Phil

As the U.S. presidential election unfolds, election perception and empowerment become crucial themes to consider. Nonstop media coverage can pull our focus outward, hijacking our attention and distracting us from personal growth. Here, I’ll explore how staying focused on our own “hero’s journey” can help us reclaim empowerment. So even in a high-stakes election season we can stop our perception becoming hijacked.

How Media Shapes Election Perception and can prevent Empowerment

The nonstop coverage of the U.S. election influences perception far beyond U.S. borders. This high-intensity, divisive coverage easily draws us in and can lead us to feel deeply invested in outcomes. While we may think we’re “staying informed,” this focus often diverts us from our own lives. This can limit our personal empowerment, especially by just watching mainstream coverage.

Embracing Your Hero’s Journey

In my work, I emphasize the concept of the hero’s journey, inspired by Joseph Campbell’s A Hero with a Thousand Faces. This journey is about finding personal meaning and empowerment and seeing ourselves as the central figure. However, focusing too much on external figures, like political leaders, can lead us to view them as “saviors,” thus reducing our own role in our lives. You may not think you’re doing this but it’s good to think about and check into. By checking this then by embracing our own hero’s journey we can maintain our empowerment and avoid our perception becoming hijacked.

The Risk of Viewing External Figures as Saviors

When we rely on external figures, we risk our personal empowerment. Following recent events, some public figures have been framed as “saviors” in the media. This can lead us to place responsibility for our well-being on them. Donald Trump has been focussed on as some kind of savior with the failed assassination attempt being seen as some kind of divine intervention (obviously not divine enough to save the guy behind him). Elon Musk has also got much more political and seen as some kind of saviour of free speech. Interestingly when you dig a little deeper you can see how his newly bought X (formally twitter) has an interesting processing of shadow banning people. Same outcome. Kamala Harris is the supposed champion of diversity and womens rights, oh and she’s the one who let millions across the border though.

It’s easy to get hijacked by one side or the other and away from our own heroes journey and our own search for information. Looking outside too much can reduce our empowerment by directing it outward rather than inward. Carl Jung once said ‘those who look outside dream, those who look in awaken’.

I also keep being presented with the words of Socrates who said ‘wisest is one who knows they do not know’. By keeping this in mind we can keep recognising things we know while also continuously looking at what we may not know. This way our views of those outside us can stay as panoramic as possible and not just a focus on one side or the other. We can keep up a constant search for information while maintaining our own sovereignty.

Strengthening Personal Empowerment

Our hero’s journey benefits from grounding practices that keep our focus on personal empowerment. Meditation, self-reflection, and setting personal goals help us reclaim power we may unknowingly give away. Carl Jung emphasized the importance of finding one’s path and becoming your own inner hero, a principle I use with clients. Recognizing our potential for growth keeps us grounded and less impacted by outside events, such as the election.

If you’d like to deepen your hero’s journey and reclaim your own empowerment, I’d be happy to support you. I offer in-person and online sessions designed to help clients focus on their personal growth.

Go here to book in directly or contact me via my details below.

All the best

Phil

Phone: 64 21 058 3234
Email: philip@newbeginningstherapy.co.nz
Website: newbeginningstherapy.co.nz