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Dr Virginia Maskill, Counselling (NZAC., NZNC., DAPAANZ) Individual and Couples Counselling, Clinical Supervision, Alcohol and Substance Use Assessments, and NZTA Assessments.

I am an experienced counsellor who offers confidential, non-judgemental, individual and couples counselling, clinical supervision, alcohol and drug assessments and NZ Traffic Authority Assessments. My aim will be to help you find the solutions that are right for you, in a supportive, collaborative way. As there is no 'one size fits all', our work together will take into consideration your personality, your goals and past life experiences. Together, these will help to formulate a plan that will identify strategies to help you move forward.

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE:

I have 25 years of counselling experience working with people experiencing mental or physical health problems, including relationship, and, or substance use challenges. I also specialise in working with people living with bipolar disorder, or with other chronic mental health and, or physical health conditions, and working with their significant others.  I am also a registered nurse with more than 35 years' experience and have worked in various hospital and community settings as a registered nurse or a Paramedic. Settings included medicine, physical rehabilitation, and acute emergency medicine. I also worked for seven years as a counsellor and as a detoxification nurse at a hospital alcohol and drug outpatient service.

In addition to my counselling practice, for the past 17 years I have had an academic appointment as a senior lecturer, and researcher with the University of Otago. My teaching and research interests are the treatment and self-management of long-term physical, mental health and substance use disorders, psychotherapy, and sociological approaches to illness and self-management practices. I have also been a member other health related research studies conducted by the National Addiction Centre, Otago University, Canterbury University, and a collaborative study undertaken by Yale University and the University of Otago.

COUNSELLING APPROACHES:

I am trained in a variety of evidence-based therapy models, and will implement the one that is appropriate for your situation. Models include:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy - Interpersonal Psychotherapy - Interpersonal Social Rhythms Therapy (an effective therapy working with people with bipolar affective disorder) - Solutions focused therapy - Motivational Interviewing - Brief Interventions

SUPERVISION:

I am also enthusiastic about supporting counsellors and practitioners across various disciplines, including students, to be confident, competent, and authentic in their practice and finding ways to do this by staying well.

Supervision Training Course (2020) Facilitated by Michael Durrant, Psychologist, Director, Brief Therapy Institute of Sydney. Supervision Training for Supervisors (2010) Facilitated by Margaret Morrell, B.A. Hons., MANZASW.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

PhD (University of Otago); Master's in health sciences (University of Otago)- (Mental Health); Post-graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (University of Otago) – with distinction (endorsed in Interpersonal Psychotherapy); Post-graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (University of Otago) – with distinction (endorsed in Addictions & Co-existing Disorders); Bachelor of Nursing (Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology).

REGISTRATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

  • Full Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

  • Practitioner, Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ).

  • Member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

  • Registered Clinical Supervisor

  • Registered Nurse, Nursing Council of New Zealand.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If an appointment is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or if a client fails to attend a scheduled appointment, the usual fee will be charged, unless otherwise negotiated.

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