Counselling plays important role in people’s lives

Most of us at some stage in our lives will need the help of a counsellor to sort out an issue that is troubling us, says Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga Chief Executive Jeff Sanders.

New Zealand counselling agencies are this week taking time to reflect on the role they play in New Zealanders’ lives as they mark Counselling Awareness Week.

“Counselling has a long and proven history of helping people work through issues most of us face at some time in our lives, whether it be in our relationships with our family and friends, or in the workplace.

“Counselling allows people the time and space to work through issues in a safe, non-judgemental way,” he says.

Last year, Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga, New Zealand’s largest provider of professional counselling and relationship education, assisted around 30,000 people in over 70 communities throughout the country.

“Since we were formed in 1950 we have provided affordable, professional counselling to hundreds of thousands of couples, families and individuals.

“Counselling can help us with everyday issues that most of us face at some time, as well as coping with extreme events like the Pike River tragedy and the recent Canterbury earthquakes,” Jeff Sanders says.

Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga is providing trauma counselling for people affected by the September and February Canterbury earthquakes as well as those affected by the Pike River tragedy.

“When something like these events happen, they hit on top of everything else people are coping with, including relationship issues.

“Events like these can be tough on relationships. That’s where counselling comes in, it gives people someone to talk to without heaping more stress on family and friends, who are more than likely coping with the same issues.

“People get strategies to help them live more comfortably with whatever they are feeling.”

Website: www.relate.org.nz

Relationship Services is New Zealand’s largest provider of professional counselling and relationship education, assisting over 28,000 people each year and working in over 70 communities throughout the country. It is a not-for-profit organisation providing affordable services for individuals, couples and families. Relationship Services has expertise in couple counselling, working with Maori, individual and family therapy, working with violence and abuse, youth at risk, and workplace issues.

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