Karin Christensen D. Hyp (2008), BCouns (2024)

Kia ora, ko Karin tōku ingoa. I grew up in Denmark but lived in the UK from my late teens for two decades before immigrating to beautiful Aotearoa New Zealand in 2009. I am the mother of a teen daughter and an adult son, and I live in beautiful New Plymouth, Taranaki region of Aotearoa New Zealand. My spare time is devoted to my family, friends and animals (a border collie and a lop-eared rabbit!), and faith and spirituality is central to my life. 

I hold a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and have been running my own hypnotherapy practice in New Plymouth since 2010. Realising the benefits that clients experienced from “just” providing a space to openly talk I commenced a Bachelor of Counselling degree in 2021 to develop my skills in talking therapy, completed in 2024.

THERAPEUTIC APPROACH:

My counselling approach is best described as eclectic or diverse and draws on person-centred, strengths-based, cognitive-behavioral, trauma-informed and narrative approaches to support tangata whaiora,”a person seeking health” (acknowledgments to Sir Mason Durie). I take a holistic, whole person approach, which considers the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of a person’s experience.  

My use of clinical hypnosis/hypnotherapy is always provided on a foundation of counselling, and only where clinically indicated for a psychological or medical issue. 

I approach therapy as teamwork/mahi tahi and believe the key to positive outcomes is active collaboration and I strive to provide a safe, non-judgmental, mana-enhancing, inclusive and culturally sensitive space in which people can feel heard and validated, grow in self-awareness, and test out new ways of being, doing and thinking. I have experience in working with people of all ages, stages and ethnicities, and with common to complex issues. 

From pain to purpose: I have first-hand experience of many of the struggles I support people through in my mahi and my own life experiences has compelled me to help others through theirs.   

New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association