Welcome! Counselling can help you address your mental wellbeing and move you forward towards conquering the loneliness you experience.
That way, you can connect with us, and establish a meaningful and professional counselling relationship, wherever you are in New Zealand.
Meaningful relationships are reciprical. So, to show your support to Loneliness NZ and to value the experience and qualifications of our counsellors, we request a sliding scale donation for each session.
Jan Morrison and Cathy Comber are dedicated to helping Loneliness NZ clients. They both are pluralistic counsellors, postgraduate trained by the University of Auckland.
Pluralistic counselling is explained in the FAQ about counselling.
Essentially, we listen to you to understand what works best for you. We respect you knowing yourself, and what you have already tried. While we come with our range of researched methods, we discuss with you which is most likely to be the most effective to you at this point in time.
Kia ora
I’m Cathy, looking forward to accompanying you on your journey, addressing your unique counselling needs every step of the way.
I’m a warm, compassionate, and client-centred counsellor who collaborates with you to find an approach that suits your needs and supports your progress.
Together during our sessions, we explore the direction you’d like to take and how our discussions are benefiting you. With a wide array of counselling methods and techniques at our disposal, we tailor our approach to what works best for you.
Some of my clients seek specific skills and support over a few weeks, while others delve into deeper psychological exploration, and we have developed a therapeutic partnership over a few years.
Loneliness NZ holds a special place in my heart, as it’s one of my deepest passions. I co-founded the Trust with the aim of assisting those whose lives are impacted by loneliness. This journey has enriched my understanding of loneliness through my interactions with clients and academic pursuits.
The pain, trauma, and stigma my clients have shared were significant in inspiring me to pursue a Master of Counselling. I truly understand the complexity of loneliness and its effect on your everyday life.
As a pioneer in researching counselling for loneliness, my Master’s thesis delved into loneliness and pluralistic counselling, exploring its trauma, stigma, and pain. I am committed to ongoing professional development, staying connected with the latest research in the field through my involvement with the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection and the NZAC.
I am a pluralistic counsellor who embraces a diverse range of theories in a flexible manner, tailored specifically to meet your unique needs and preferences. Some of the models and theories you might encounter during our sessions include:
In addition to supporting Loneliness NZ, I have a private practice Cathy Comber Counselling. Here, I offer general counselling, relationship counselling for individuals, and joint sessions for couples, family and marriage counselling.
As a cofounder, trustee and CEO of Loneliness NZ, my career is on the Trustees page of this website. in brief, I have contributed as a counsellor, senior manager or trustee for numerous organisations over the past two decades since coming to New Zealand.
Additionally, you can find my career history on LinkedIn.
Kia Ora, I’m Jan.
I look forward to our sessions together. Your input and feedback are always welcome, as they help tailor our sessions to best suit you.
I firmly believe that every individual possesses the capacity to become their best selves; sometimes, all it takes is the right prompt or tools. As a pluralistic counsellor, my counselling style is centred around the client, characterised by empathy, safety, and a non-judgmental attitude. I view sessions as collaborative and flexible, recognising the unique needs of each individual.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with clients ranging from 12 to 65+ years old in various settings. These include telephone helpline counselling, mentoring youth through the campus connections program, as well as providing face-to-face and online counselling. I’ve also facilitated grief groups, both within schools and for adults. Before venturing into counselling, I had a background in HR and recruitment, as well as adult education. I took some time off to raise my family, which has been incredibly rewarding.
Although I was born in Auckland, I’ve had the opportunity to travel extensively, living in places like Hong Kong and Australia. Now, I’m happily settled back in Auckland with my family – my husband, two adult children, and our beloved Burmese cat.
When I’m not working, you’ll often find me indulging in my hobbies, such as tramping, paddle-boarding, and recently, tai chi, which has been a delightful discovery. Otherwise, I’m likely immersed in a good book, as I have a passion for reading.
Seeking help and finding the right support can be a significant step. To assist you in making informed decisions and addressing any questions you might have, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions.
This includes FAQ s about counselling
When it might help with loneliness, finding the right counsellor, the importance of collaboration in sessions, why professional support matters, options for casual chats or check-ins, and what to do in a crisis.
Our list of questions about our service include how to register, session costs, financial contributions, managing financial challenges, appointment details, video technology, group and organisation services, service limitations, and donation information.
We understand that reaching out for help can be a daunting step. We’re here with the support and guidance you!
When you’re ready, please fill out the form to explore counselling sessions with us. We will be in touch soon.