Best Counsellors in Blenheim: Trauma, Perinatal and Child Therapy Specialists

Choosing between the best counsellors in Blenheim comes down to what you are carrying and who is trained to sit with it. Local practitioners cover talking therapy for anxiety and depression, EMDR and trauma work, couples and family sessions, perinatal support, professional supervision and play-based counselling for tamariki, with ACC sensitive claims and funded referrals accepted at several practices. The counselling in Blenheim set out below runs from Tatiana Ceban Counselling Services on Alfred Street to Therapy Tides, whose work centres on trauma therapy for individuals and couples.

1Tatiana Ceban Counselling Services

Tatiana Ceban works with individuals, couples and families from Room 20 at the Marlborough Community Centre on Alfred Street, and online for clients further afield. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology at NZQA level 9 and draws on existential analysis, EMDR, systemic family therapy, solution-focused brief psychotherapy and child play and art therapy. Perinatal counselling is a particular focus, alongside professional supervision for other practitioners.

Services

• Individual counselling and therapy
• Perinatal counselling and therapy
• Couples and family counselling
• Professional supervision for counsellors and practitioners
• Life coaching

Highlights

• Full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, renewing an annual practising certificate
• Member of EMDR New Zealand
• Member of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Speaks Romanian, Russian, English and Spanish fluently
• Contracted counsellor for WINZ, EAP, Maata Waka and the Cancer Society

Location & Contact

Name: Tatiana Ceban Counselling Services
Address: Room 20, Marlborough Community Centre, 25 Alfred Street, Blenheim 7201
Phone: 027 901 9807
Website: tatianaceban.com

2Therapy Tides

Therapy Tides is the Blenheim private practice of Paola Montanaro, who works with adults and couples on trauma, generalised anxiety and complex mental health concerns. She has practised across New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, England and Germany over two decades, with earlier roles in protection and social services, relationship services and child and adolescent mental health. Sessions run in person in Blenheim or online.

Services

• Individual therapy for adults
• Couples therapy
• EMDR and Internal Family Systems informed EMDR for trauma
• Supervision for students and mental health professionals
• Animal-assisted therapy sessions

Highlights

• NZ Master in Clinical Psychology, and an approved member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors
• Certified in EMDR and in Internal Family Systems informed EMDR
• Registered psychotherapist with the Spanish Federation of Associations of Psychotherapists
• Sessions can be held in English, Spanish, Italian or French
• Provides therapy for ACC Sensitive Claims, WINZ, Victim Support, the New Zealand Air Force and local health services

Location & Contact

Name: Therapy Tides
Address: Blenheim
Website: therapytides.co.nz

3Deborah Barton Counselling Services

Deborah Barton runs a centrally located private practice in Blenheim, working with adults on whatever they bring rather than a fixed problem list. Her approach combines traditional talking therapy with somatic awareness and mindfulness practice, shaped by person-centred therapy, Internal Family Systems, narrative therapy and structural family therapy. Appointment times are flexible and Zoom sessions are available.

Services

• Individual counselling for adults
• Internal Family Systems therapy
• Narrative therapy
• Mindfulness and somatic awareness practice within sessions
• Online and Zoom counselling

Highlights

• Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors
• ACC Integrated Services Sensitive Claims provider
• Bachelor of Counselling and Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Five years in private practice, after more than twenty years studying and teaching mindfulness and meditation
• Certified yoga teacher, bringing body-based practice into talking therapy

Location & Contact

Name: Deborah Barton Counselling Services
Address: Blenheim
Phone: 021 035 5878
Website: deborahbarton.com

4Play Therapy Works

Play Therapy Works is Sharon du Preez’s child counselling practice at Covent Gardens in Springlands, working with children aged 12 and under through play-based counselling. Sessions help tamariki process parental separation, anxiety, trauma, grief, relational difficulties and adjustment to change, using a dedicated and well-equipped play therapy room. Parents attend an initial session on their own, and can book their own sessions alongside the child’s.

Services

• Individual play therapy for children aged 12 and under
• Cognitive behavioural therapy and trauma-focused CBT in a play-based setting
• Parent and caregiver counselling and coaching
• Developmental play sessions

Highlights

• Fully registered with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and with ACC
• BA Health and Social Science in psychology and counselling, with diplomas in CBT and trauma-focused CBT
• Diploma in neuro-relational child-centred play therapy
• Over a decade of counselling experience, following a background in education
• Parent support groups run when there is demand for them

Location & Contact

Name: Play Therapy Works
Address: 4 Covent Gardens, Springlands, Blenheim 7201
Website: playtherapyworks.co.nz

5Positive Wellbeing

Positive Wellbeing is Maxine Brayshaw’s counselling and supervision practice, seeing adult clients in person in Blenheim or online. She works in an integrated way, drawing on a person-centred approach, brief solution-focused therapy, CBT, narrative therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, and takes on both short and long term work. Alongside one-to-one sessions she develops and runs wellbeing workshops for organisations.

Services

• Individual counselling for adults
• Professional supervision for people whose role requires it
• Cognitive behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy
• Brief solution-focused and narrative therapy
• Wellbeing workshops and courses for workplaces

Highlights

• Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors
• Bachelor of Counselling, Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision and Diploma in Stress Management
• Over 12 years of counselling experience with adults, offering both short and long term options
• Fees published openly on the website at $135 for counselling and $155 for supervision
• Workshops delivered across industries on mental health, stress management, resilience, communication and conflict resolution

Location & Contact

Name: Positive Wellbeing
Address: Blenheim
Phone: 021 217 7084
Website: positivewellbeing.co.nz

Counsellors in Blenheim at a Glance

How to Choose the Right Counsellor in Blenheim

• Check the practitioner’s registration. Membership of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors means an annual practising certificate, regular supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Match the modality to the problem. EMDR and Internal Family Systems are trauma-focused, CBT suits anxiety and mood patterns, and play therapy is built for children who are not ready to talk things through.
• Ask how the work will be funded. Several Marlborough practices are ACC sensitive claims providers or hold contracts with WINZ, EAP schemes and community organisations, which changes what you pay.
• Decide whether you need in person, online or a mix. Video and phone sessions widen your choice beyond whoever has a room near you, which matters if you are in a rural part of the region.
• Think about fit before qualifications. A first session is partly about whether you can speak freely with this person, and most counsellors expect you to weigh that up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blenheim Counsellors

How much does counselling cost in Blenheim?

Fees are set by each practice and most Marlborough counsellors quote them on enquiry rather than publishing a fixed rate. What you actually pay often depends on funding rather than the advertised fee, because sensitive claims, employer schemes and community contracts can cover some or all of a session. Ask about both the private rate and any funding you might qualify for when you first make contact.

Do I need a referral to see a counsellor?

For private counselling you can contact a practitioner directly and book an initial session yourself. Referrals matter when funding is involved: ACC sensitive claims work, employer assistance programmes and some community-funded counselling each have their own entry process. If you are unsure which applies, say so in your first email or call and the practice can point you the right way.

What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist?

Counsellors and psychologists both provide talking therapy, but they train and register differently. Psychologists are registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act and can carry out formal psychological assessment. Counsellor is not a protected title in New Zealand, so it is worth checking a counsellor’s professional membership and qualifications yourself before you book.

How do I check that a counsellor is properly qualified?

Look for membership of a professional body and ask which qualification the practitioner holds. The New Zealand Association of Counsellors maintains a public search for its members, and full members must renew an annual practising certificate, attend regular supervision and keep up professional development. Most Blenheim practices list their memberships and degrees on their own website.

Which parts of Blenheim are counsellors based in?

Practices are spread across town rather than clustered in one street. There are rooms in the central grid around Alfred Street, and child counselling in Springlands on the western side, while some practitioners give location details on enquiry rather than publishing an address. If travel is difficult, ask about online sessions: several practitioners see clients by Zoom, Google Meet or phone, which puts a counsellor in Blenheim within reach from Renwick, Picton and the wider Marlborough district.

Can counselling be covered by ACC?

Yes, in specific circumstances. ACC funds therapy for people affected by sexual abuse or sexual assault through its sensitive claims service, and several Blenheim counsellors are registered providers for it. Cover for other counselling is more limited and usually tied to a physical injury claim. ACC sets out who is eligible and how to start a claim.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people come for a handful of sessions focused on one issue, while trauma work and long-standing patterns generally take longer. Funding can also cap the number of sessions available. Counsellors usually discuss a rough plan with you after the first or second appointment, and revisit it as the work develops.

Is counselling available for children in Marlborough?

Yes. Child counselling in Blenheim is delivered mainly through play-based approaches, which suit children who are too young to talk an issue through directly. Parents and caregivers normally attend an initial session on their own to give background, then the child attends alone so they can build their own relationship with the counsellor. Parent coaching sessions often run alongside the child’s therapy.