Mrs Teresa Van Der Merwe

Licensed Professional Counselor

Verified

“I am an NZAC Registered Counsellor (B.Couns) specializing in working with children, youth, adults, families, and relationships facing various challenges, including autism, ADHD, trauma, sexual abuse, and complex relational dynamics. With a compassionate, culturally responsive approach grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā and”

About Me

I offer a compassionate space for children, youth, and adults grappling with challenges like autism, ADHD, or trauma. My support extends to families and relationships facing complex dynamics. Grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, my culturally responsive approach helps you explore your mental, physical, spiritual, and family well-being. This holistic perspective fosters strength and understanding, guiding you towards a clearer path forward.

Approach

I hold sessions that feel steady and practical, responding to each person’s rhythm with gentle pacing and clear goals so you know what the next step looks like. In my Auckland clinic and online, conversations can move between English and Afrikaans and include creative tasks, short between-session reflections, or advocacy for families when needed. Sessions often blend gentle exploration of trauma, sensory needs or relational patterns with hands-on strategies you can try at home. This way of working tends to suit those seeking calm, structured support and clearer daily coping.

Contact Teresa

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Basic Information

Auckland, New Zealand

In-person & Online

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Services

Life can feel overwhelming, especially when you're expected to hold everything together. Whether you're battling anxiety, navigating burnout, or simply feeling stuck, counselling offers a space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.

I offer a calm, confidential environment where you're free to be fully heard, without judgment, pressure, or “fixing.”

Services Offered:

Art Therapy
A form of therapy that uses visual art-making (drawing, painting, sculpture) as a means of expression and emotional processing.
Learn more about Art Therapy
Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.
Advocacy
Services that help individuals navigate healthcare, education, or social systems to ensure their mental health needs are recognised and met.
Learn more about Advocacy
Coaching
A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.
Counseling
A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.
Learn more about Counseling
Crisis Counseling
Immediate, short-term psychological support during an acute mental health crisis such as a panic episode, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming distress.
Divorce Counseling
Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.
Relationship Counseling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Mediation
A structured process in which a neutral third party helps people in conflict reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Learn more about Mediation
Personal Development
The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

Works With:

All ages
Communities
Elderly
Families
Groups

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Abuse
Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.
Addiction
A compulsive dependence on a substance or behaviour, such as alcohol, drugs, or gambling, that causes harmful consequences to health, relationships, or daily life.
Learn more about Addiction
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
ADHD / Attention
A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about ADHD / Attention
Autism (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.
Mood Disorder
A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.
Learn more about Mood Disorder
Cancer Support
The psychological and emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis on the individual and their loved ones, including fear, grief, and adjustment to treatment.
Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.
Trauma
The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.
Learn more about Trauma
Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.