Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist
I am a registered psychotherapist practising in Kingsland, Auckland. If you would like to know more about who I am, how I work and whether psychotherapy might be a good fit for you or your family, scroll down and get in touch.
Simone Goulding
Ko wai au?
I te taha o tōku pāpā
Ko Galtymore tōku maunga
Ko Ara tōku awa
No Aerana ōku tīpuna
Ko Goulding tōku whānau
I tipu ake au ki te taha o tōku pāpā ki Ōtautahi
He tangata Tiriti au
He māmā hoki au
He kaihaumanu hinengaro au mo tamariki me rangatahi
Ko Simone tōku ingoa
On my father's side
My ancestors are from Ireland
Galtymore is my mountain
Ara is my river
My family was born in Christchurch
I am tangata Tiriti
a mum
and a psychotherapist
My training in relational psychodynamic psychotherapy, centres on the importance of strengthening relationships to support positive change and healing. This includes the relationship we have with ourselves, but also supporting whānau, school, peer-group, community and cultural connections.
I have experience helping with anxiety, school attendance, toileting, aggression, gender and identity, depression, eating disorders, self harm, trauma, social media behaviours, isolation, attachment, ADHD and autism related concerns.
For younger tamariki, I offer play therapy as the primary method to explore thoughts and feelings, while for adolescents, a combination of talking, art, music, games and materials, helps to create a safe space to connect.
Please email me to schedule a no obligation phone call to discuss what's on your mind.
Areas of expertise
I specialise in seeing clients who are managing one or many of the below worries.
Anxiety & Stress
Generalised and Specific
Support for those struggling with anxiety, separation anxiety, school attendance, friendship ruptures, bullying and social media.
Family Dynamics
Caregiver-Child Relationships
Support for families to navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, and promote understanding. Including grief, separation and divorce.
Identity
Growth and Change
Support for exploring identity, personal growth, gender and sexuality in a safe environment.
Depression & Low mood
Risk Management and Safety Planning
Support for clients experiencing low mood, a change in mood, isolation, digital dependence, intrusive or harmful thoughts.
Distress
Eating Disorders and Self Harm
Support for managing physical and emotional distress, safety planning and referrals.
Aggression & Acting Out
Distress Tolerance and Emotional Regulation
Support for managing big feelings, reactivity and conflict at home and in other environments.
Trauma
Sustained or Singular
Safe and supportive environment for processing trauma at a client-led pace, including violence, neglect and sexual harm.
Client Stories
Ngā mihi to the families who have given their permission for me to share their stories.
Mum of an adolescent
"Simone gave my daughter a safe and welcoming space. As a child who struggles with anxiety, she felt comfortable opening up and sharing the good and the hard moments."
Parent of a child
"Simone’s patience and professionalism and natural way of supporting our son, to connect and open up, to work through big things in his life, helped him to gain more confidence and self worth."
Questions Answered
Learn More
Find answers to common questions about psychotherapy, my services and fees:
What is relational psychotherapy?
In a child & adolescent context, relational psychodynamic psychotherapy is a client-led talk or play therapy that explores the way we relate to ourselves and others. By thinking together about what occurs in the therapy space between therapist and client, stories and behaviours that can make you feel stuck are revealed and worked through. It is interactive, family centred and relational, guided by whakawhanaungatanga, connection and understanding.
How do you work?
I work with children, young people and their caregivers from ages 3 - 25. For clients who come with the support of their caregivers, a regular cycle of sessions is six one-to-one sessions with the client, followed by one family feedback session to check in on changing goals and progress.
For clients who self refer, or are over the age of 16, the sessions are one-to-one, unless the client wishes to invite family or community members. Confidentiality and legal rights and responsibilities are explained in the first session.
How long will it take?
A common question when beginning any therapy is 'how long will it take?' After an initial assessment period of three sessions, a bespoke treatment plan, including goals, will be discussed to determine your therapeutic next steps. This may be psychotherapy, or a referral to a different service, practitioner or modality.
It is common to see a client for psychotherapy for a period of six-months to a year, with regular review periods. A client or family may choose to end the therapy at any time.
Fees:
Initial consultation session (90mins): $200
Ongoing weekly session (50mins): $160
Family feedback session (50mins): $100
Payment due at completion of session
24hr cancellation policy (50% of fee)