OUR COUNSELORS

Laura Hurtado-Roberts

Laura has a Graduate Diploma in Counselling Practice and is a practitioner in developmental movement therapy [Extra Lesson™], an educational approach to neuro-development and child development. Experienced in working with parents, children and young people, counselled women and men of all ages and couples experiencing loss and grief, trauma, abuse, anxiety, depression, attachment issues, pain and long-term illness, transitioning through life stages.

Using a person-centred approach and inspired by V. Frankl -finding a meaning- she works with warmth, non-judgmental acceptance and deep listening in order to create a sacred and safe space with the client. She brings a compassionate approach especially during this time of uncertainty. Using stories, art, movement, play therapy, sensory integration, body awareness and mindfulness as a way to strengthen the client’s personal needs in their journey toward assertiveness and self-discovery.

Laura has a PhD in social sciences which supports her understanding that clients are individuals existing in the wider context of their society and culture, demonstrated through working with people from many cultural backgrounds. She speaks Spanish and French as well, and honours Te Tiriti of Waitangi.

Setal Patel

With a background in psychology, I returned to counselling after having worked at Victim Support in the late 90s for several years. Living abroad working in other fields construction, design and build, project and contract management, regeneration projects involving arts in East London and working with disadvantaged youth in Greenwich.

I returned to Aotearoa New Zealand to retrain in counselling. I draw from multiple therapies that are best suited to the client’s needs. From cultural counselling, narrative therapy, solution-focused therapies, CBT and integrative holistic therapies to guide whanau to find a sense of purpose and practical strategies that can be applied to empower both parent and child.

I work with whanau groups, children, teens and young adults with ADHD, trauma backgrounds and those who have just become stuck – working collaboratively to set goals. I am committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi particularly Tino rangatiratanga, Active protection and Equity and am passionate about the commitment for social justice. I have high ethical standards which I bring to counseling, respecting the dignity and privacy of my clients. I also like to have fun!

Zosia Pardela (she/her)

Sessions with Zosia (pronounced: Zoh-shia) are gentle and informal. Zosia will welcome all parts of you – including the ones that may be nervous about coming to therapy, the ones that yell at your kids sometimes and the ones who feel ashamed of that. You don’t have to leave any part of yourself at the door when you come to see Zosia.

She is trained in trauma therapy and helps her clients with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, imposter syndrome, burnout, harsh self-criticism, stress, excessive people-pleasing and emotional dysregulation.

Zosia teaches her clients practical strategies to be with their emotions without getting overwhelmed. She would love to help you befriend your emotions and teach you to do the same for your child/ren. Zosia draws from Māori approaches as she believes everyone can learn from indigenous wisdom. Zosia is of Polish heritage and her experience of life of an immigrant makes her particularly dedicated to providing counselling which is culturally safe. She is an LGBTQIA+ ally.

Zosia is currently working towards her provisional NZAC registration, she’s a counsellor in training through Masters of Counselling at Massey University. She has a Masters of Psychology of Mental Health and Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling.