Counselling services
The Melanoma New Zealand Counselling Service supports anyone affected by melanoma, including individuals, families, whānau and carers facing the challenges of a new diagnosis, ongoing treatments, or post treatment. Free, and online or by phone, our counselling service offers you an opportunity to safely explore your thoughts and emotions with a professional counsellor, in complete confidence.
Urgent Crisis Support
This service is not a crisis centre. If you have serious concerns about a person’s immediate safety (or your own):
- Call 111; or
- Go to your nearest Hospital Emergency Department; or
- Phone your local Mental Health Crisis Assessment Team.
Counselling for patients
Individual sessions for patients are offered online or via phone only. Our service provides short-term brief intervention, and we’re able to offer up to four sessions. Some people find just one session useful, while others appreciate more. Each session lasts for 50 minutes and is confidential.
Refer a patient (for health professionals)
If you are a health professional and would like to refer a patient to the Melanoma New Zealand Counselling Service please use the link below.
Counselling for carers, family or whānau
These individual sessions are for family, whānau and caregivers who are specifically supporting a close member of their household who is impacted by melanoma and are offered online or by phone only. Our service provides short-term brief intervention, and we’re able to offer up to four sessions. Some people find just one session useful, while others appreciate more. Each session lasts for 50 minutes and is confidential.
Support Groups
We’re currently setting up two online support groups to meet monthly facilitated by our experienced Counsellor.
- Melanoma New Zealand Patient Support Group
- Melanoma New Zealand Family/Whānau Support Group
The online sessions will run for 60 minutes. To register your interest in joining one of these groups click here.
Introducing Our Counsellor Shireen Garrett
I am empathetic, supportive, and compassionate in my approach and walk alongside my client whilst honouring and respecting your autonomy. I provide a safe, respectful and non-judgemental space which is sensitive to your stories and life experiences.
I practise from a pluralistic and holistic approach (not a one-size-fits-all) and collaborate with you to determine ways of working together. I strongly believe that change is always possible and that our identity is fluid and continually evolving.
I will listen to you, hold hope for you when you cannot, and work with you to navigate and make sense of the challenges and emotions you are experiencing.
– Shireen Garrett, Melanoma New Zealand Counsellor
[Find out more about Shireen here]
More about our counselling service
Our counsellor supports anyone affected by melanoma, including individuals, families, whānau and carers facing the challenges of a new diagnosis, ongoing treatments or post treatment. The emotional stress that accompanies these situations can often be as challenging as the physical symptoms. It is normal to feel anxious or frightened about what you are experiencing.
Counselling is a private and confidential process where you talk with an experienced and qualified professional. Our counsellor is professionally trained and a registered member of the New Zealand Association of Counselling (NZAC). This means our counsellor works according to the ethical values and principles of the Code of Ethics which protects clients’ privacy and safety as well as providing a robust complaints process.
Our counsellor has external supervision from qualified clinical and cultural supervisors to empathise integrated cultural and clinical practice in adherence with NZAC guidelines and best practice standards.
You’ll find more information about the nature of the counselling consultation on our booking forms, and Melanoma New Zealand’s Terms and Conditions – Melanoma NZ