Counselling in Auckland that offers a place to slow down, reflect, and explore what matters.

I’m Nathan Ramsey, a counsellor who values thoughtful conversation, genuine connection, and the relief that comes from being heard, seen, and understood. I grew up outside of Kaikohe in the far north of Aotearoa New Zealand on a beef farm, and I’ve always loved music, art, and the outdoors — interests that still shape how I work as a counsellor today. I now live in West Auckland with my wife, an architect, and our two young children.

Before private practice, I worked in various mental health services across Auckland, supporting children, adolescents, adults, couples and families through everything from everyday overwhelm to more complex relational and mental health challenges. That range shapes how I work now — I adapt to the person in front of me rather than applying one approach to everyone. I hold a Bachelor of Health Science (Counselling) from AUT and a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapy (Distinction) from Whitecliffe College, and I’m a full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

My style of counselling is relational and talk-based, guided by you and the relationship we form in the counselling room. I work from an integrative therapeutic approach as I draw on various modalities such as person-centred and arts/play-based ways of working, alongside more structured tools like DBT, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy when someone needs clearer direction and structure. What actually shapes each session is the relationship in the room, and from that I draw on whichever approach is most useful for who is in front of me.

I work with individuals, couples, and families across a wide range of ages and stages of life. Since 2020 I’ve supported people through everyday overwhelm, anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, family conflict, and identity or relational struggles, as well as ADHD and ASD-related challenges. I’ve also worked in more specialised, high-stakes contexts, including with young people navigating problematic sexual behaviours, often within mandated or multi-agency settings involving whānau, schools, and other services.

Before we start, I’ll send through a counselling agreement and intake form covering things like why your wanting to attend counselling, confidentiality, fees, and cancellations, so that both you and I are as informed as we can be and know what to expect and can ask questions ahead of our first appointment.

In the first session itself, I generally start with introductions and then cover the counselling agreement together if needed, then talk about what’s brought you in and what you’re hoping to get from counselling. Outside of this there’s no set agenda. In the early sessions, my main job is usually just helping you settle into the counselling space and to build a bit of a relationship with you so that you feel as comfortable as you can be before anything else can happen.

That’s completely normal, and it’s not something you need to prepare for. Plenty of people arrive without a clear starting point, and we’ll figure it out together once we’re in the room. We can also make some art, and play some games to help you relax, if needed. You are also more than welcome to bring a support person (parent, friend, etc) into any session.

There’s no fixed number. It depends on what you’re bringing and what you’re hoping for. I generally recommend starting with around three to four sessions, then reviewing together how things are going and what, if anything, feels needed from there.

That’s okay, and it happens. Counselling works best when it feels right for you, so if at any point it doesn’t, I’ll gladly help you think about what might be a better fit.

What you share stays between us, with only a few narrow exceptions which are: if you ask me to share something, if there’s a serious risk to your safety or someone else’s, or if I’m legally required to. If I ever need to share anything, I’ll always talk it through with you first wherever possible.

I don’t offer crisis support or diagnostic assessments. If you’re in crisis, please contact a crisis line, 111, or your GP for immediate support.

Sessions are 50 minutes long, and individual sessions (in person or online) are $130. I’m an approved provider for Te Puna Manawa Trust and GumbootFriday, which offers funded sessions for eligible clients - please ask if you like to seek any of these funding options.

In-person sessions are offered on Saturday mornings at Restore Wellbeing, Level 1 (upstairs), 552 Te Atatu Peninsula Road, Waitakere, Auckland. Please note the space is accessed via stairs; there’s currently no lift access. I also have limited online sessions available through the week.