About Brigitte

Brigitte is a psychotherapist who has experience working with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, family dynamics and trauma. Brigitte sees adults (individuals and couples) and families for long term and short term Psychotherapy. She is trained in psychodynamic therapies and provides a safe and professional space for clients to explore and understand dynamics that may be affecting their wellbeing. Brigitte can help you gain an increased understanding of yourself, and help you learn strategies to work through the problems you are experiencing. This can allow for a more purposeful and meaningful life. Brigitte works with her clients collaboratively defining goals of therapy and clients are encouraged to work at a pace that suits them.

Brigitte is also an ACC Sensitive Claims Provider (Adults).

Therapy Approach

Brigitte specialises in psychodynamic psychotherapies and provide a safe and professional space for clients to explore and understand dynamics that may be affecting their wellbeing, and work to strengthen their capacity to make choices in life that are empowering for him or her and be support for difficulties they are experiencing in their lives.

Brigitte has a particular interest in attachment from early attachment theorists such as John Bowlby and Harry Harlow, through to other theories of human togetherness and current brain science and physical sciences that are concerned with the drive for proximity, such as Dr Neufeld. Attachment patterns in childhood have far-reaching effects on relationship skills and their mental representations in adult life. Couples are attracted to one another if there is some kind of ‘fit’ between their own inner world and that of the other. Areas of pain and vulnerability will inevitably come into play.

Through the narrative process of therapy and the nature of the therapist-client relationship, therapy can assist the client to learn to become self-reflexive. Brigitte's aim is to create some of the parameters of secure base in working with clients through consistency, reliability, responsiveness, non-possessive warmth and firm boundaries.

"The more we use our imagination to know ourselves and others better, the more adept we are likely to be at negotiating the interpersonal world we inhabit" (Humphrey, 1984).

Background and Experience

I have worked the clients in both agency and private practice. In my role as a psychotherapist I have experience in working with clients suffering from depression, grief, anger, loss, anxiety, worry, post-traumatic stress disorder, and those with a history of trauma and abuse, amongst other things. I am comfortable working with a range of clients' ethnicities, cultures and ways of life and I am able to empathise with my clients and their position. I also have experience working with “every day” issues such as stress, relationship problems, work challenges, communication difficulties and working with parents in relation to challenges they have had with their children.

I also have a special interest in the impact of human development and people's social media use (and other online issues) and how this might impact on their attachments and ways of relating.

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

• Masters in Psychotherapy

• Diploma in Counselling Skills & Theories

• Bachelor of Arts - Honours (Psychology)

• Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy

Brigitte is registered with the The Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Appointments

To make an appointment, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact Brigitte on either 0204 0570 804.

Alternatively you can use the form on the contact page and Brigitte will get back to you as soon as she can.