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Tattooed Truths: Symbols of Survival and Identity in Therapy

by Wilbyn Mitchell (22/04/2025)

In recent years, tattoos have moved far beyond the realm of rebellion or fashion; they have emerged as deeply personal artefacts of meaning, memory, and identity. For many individuals, especially those who have experienced trauma or major life transitions, tattoos represent more than art—they are symbolic milestones in their healing journeys. In the counselling space, tattoos can offer powerful openings for conversation, narrative exploration, and therapeutic insight.

From a psychological perspective, tattoos can act as externalised memory markers—visible and intentional reminders of one’s values, losses, or survival. A semicolon tattoo, for example, might speak to a client’s experience with suicidal ideation or mental illness, symbolising a choice to continue rather than end a sentence—or a life. Such symbols can be used in counselling to open deeper dialogues about resilience, recovery, and identity reformation.

In trauma-informed counselling, the body is often a contested space. For survivors of abuse, illness, or identity-based violence, tattoos may serve as a reclamation of bodily autonomy. Choosing to mark the skin—once violated or diminished—with a personally meaningful image can be a way of saying, “This body is mine.” The act of being tattooed, which involves enduring physical discomfort for an outcome chosen by the client, can even mimic a controlled, empowering reenactment of past pain, reframed with consent and agency.

Tattoos also bring narrative therapy principles to life. They are stories quite literally written on the skin. When clients are invited to speak about the origin, meaning, and emotion behind their tattoos, they often uncover powerful links between the ink and their evolving identities. A tattoo might mark the end of a toxic relationship, the death of a loved one, a new chapter of sobriety, or a spiritual awakening. These stories, when told in a counselling session, can deepen self-awareness and serve as anchors in the therapeutic process.

However, it’s important to acknowledge the complexities. Not all tattoos carry positive associations. Some are tied to past traumas, impulsivity, regret, or affiliations with unhealthy subcultures. Clients may express shame or ambivalence about their ink, and these feelings can become a therapeutic entry point to explore unresolved emotions, past identities, or desires for transformation—such as covering or removing a tattoo as part of recovery.

The cultural context also matters. In Aotearoa New Zealand, for instance, traditional Māori tā moko are not only aesthetic but sacred, carrying whakapapa (genealogy), mana, and spiritual significance. Recognising this within a counselling framework invites practitioners to be culturally competent and trauma-aware, particularly when working with Māori or Pasifika clients. Asking respectful, open-ended questions about tā moko, and understanding the cultural narratives they represent, can strengthen the therapeutic alliance and support a culturally safe space.

Ultimately, tattoos are rich with metaphor, memory, and meaning. They are visual stories that invite curiosity, not judgement. For counsellors, approaching tattoos as potential therapeutic tools—with sensitivity and respect—can open new paths for healing, insight, and empowerment. In a field where narrative and identity are central, the ink on a client’s skin may be one of their most profound expressions of self.

The Shorter Days, the Longer Shadows: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder in Aotearoa

by Wilbyn Mitchell (14/04/2025)

As autumn settles across Aotearoa New Zealand and daylight retreats, a quiet transformation unfolds—not only in our landscapes, but within many of us. While some welcome the slower rhythm of winter, for others, the shorter days bring a persistent low mood, fatigue, and a sense of emotional heaviness. This is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a cyclical form of depression tied to seasonal changes, and it's more common in Aotearoa than many realise.

More Than Just the “Winter Blues”

Often dismissed as a passing case of the “winter blues,” SAD is in fact a clinically recognised form of depression. It typically emerges in late autumn or early winter and lifts with the return of longer, lighter days in spring. For many, this shift is more than a mood dip—it disrupts daily functioning, relationships, and wellbeing.

What makes SAD distinct is its predictable pattern. It’s linked to changes in sunlight exposure, which affects our circadian rhythm—the internal clock regulating sleep, hormones, and mood. Shorter days can lead to lower serotonin levels (which help regulate mood) and increased melatonin production (which promotes sleep). The result is often a potent mix of lethargy, sadness, and disconnection.

Aotearoa’s Unique Context

While SAD is often associated with colder, darker countries in the Northern Hemisphere, it is very much present in Aotearoa—especially in southern regions where winter daylight hours can drop to as little as eight per day. The more temperate climate may give the illusion that SAD isn’t as serious here, but this misconception can lead to underdiagnosis and lack of support.

Additionally, our culture adds a complex layer to the experience of SAD. The iconic Kiwi image of rugged outdoor activity and self-reliance can create internal pressure during winter months. When energy and motivation drop, people may feel like they're falling short of cultural expectations. This perceived mismatch can deepen feelings of guilt, isolation, and inadequacy.

For Māori, understanding SAD through the lens of Te Whare Tapa Whā—a holistic model of health encompassing taha tinana (physical), taha hinengaro (mental/emotional), taha wairua (spiritual), and taha whānau (family/social)—offers important insight. SAD doesn’t just affect mood; it can also disrupt spiritual and relational balance, particularly when social withdrawal and disconnection from nature occur.

Recognising the Signs

SAD shares symptoms with major depression but follows a seasonal rhythm. Look for:

·       Low mood most of the day, nearly every day

·       Fatigue or excessive sleep

·       Craving carbohydrates or changes in appetite

·       Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

·       Social withdrawal

·       Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness

If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks and interfere with everyday life, it’s time to seek professional help.

Effective Treatments in Aotearoa

SAD is treatable, and there are many supportive resources available locally:

·       Light therapy: Exposure to a light box that mimics sunlight can help reset circadian rhythms.

·       Talk therapy: Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are effective, especially when tailored to the seasonal context.

·       Medication: Antidepressants may be recommended in moderate to severe cases.

·       Lifestyle support: Daily walks—even on overcast days—regular routines, exercise, and healthy nutrition can significantly improve symptoms.

Incorporating culturally relevant practices like karakia (prayer/ritual), mahi māra (gardening), and staying connected to whānau can also nurture spiritual and relational wellbeing, vital components in Māori and holistic models of health.

Finding Light in the Shadows

As the sun lingers longer each day and spring returns, many find their mood naturally lifting. But for those living with SAD, understanding its cyclical nature is crucial. Planning ahead, developing self-care strategies, and engaging in preventative counselling during the transition seasons can build resilience for winters to come.

Most importantly, acknowledging SAD as a legitimate and treatable condition helps break the silence and stigma around it. If you or someone you care about experiences seasonal depression, know that support is available and recovery is possible.

Resources for Support

·       Mental Health Foundation of NZ: https://mentalhealth.org.nz

·       Free mental health support: Call or text 1737 any time to speak with a trained counsellor

·       Find a counsellor near you: https://www.nzac.org.nz

Winter may bring shorter days, but with the right support, the shadows don’t have to linger.

Unleashing the Inner Landscape: The Power of Creative Arts Therapy in Aotearoa

by Wilbyn Mitchell (31/03/2025)

Creative Arts Therapy is a dynamic and holistic approach to healing that draws on the power of the arts—such as visual arts, music, movement, drama, and creative writing—to support clients in exploring emotions, developing insight, and fostering personal growth. In the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, this modality is uniquely positioned to resonate with the diverse cultural fabric and rich artistic traditions of the land. What makes creative arts therapy especially compelling is its ability to go beyond language, making it accessible and impactful for people across all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

One of the most unique aspects of creative arts therapy is its emphasis on process over product. Unlike traditional talk therapy, where verbal communication is central, creative arts therapy invites clients to engage with creative processes as a way of accessing and expressing internal experiences that may be difficult to articulate. This can be particularly valuable for individuals who have experienced trauma, neurodivergence, or developmental challenges, where verbal expression may feel inaccessible or insufficient.

In Aotearoa, the integration of bicultural and culturally responsive practice adds profound depth to creative arts therapy. The model of Te Whare Tapa Whā, developed by Sir Mason Durie, provides a foundational Māori health framework that aligns naturally with creative modalities. The four pillars—taha tinana (physical health), taha wairua (spiritual health), taha whānau (family and social wellbeing), and taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing)—highlight the interwoven nature of holistic wellbeing, which creative arts therapy directly supports. For example, engaging in weaving, kapa haka, or storytelling can serve not only as therapeutic practice but also as a reconnection to whakapapa (genealogy), whenua (land), and identity.

Creative arts therapy also offers a decolonising potential by centring indigenous ways of knowing and being. It encourages practitioners to work collaboratively with clients, respecting and incorporating their cultural knowledge and personal narratives into the therapy space. This emphasis on collaboration and co-creation supports the mana of the client, fostering empowerment rather than a top-down model of “fixing” someone.

Moreover, creative arts therapy aligns well with community-based and strengths-based approaches that are increasingly recognised as effective in New Zealand’s health and education sectors. It can be practiced one-on-one, in groups, or in community settings, offering a flexible and inclusive way to address collective trauma, foster resilience, and build social connection.

As a growing profession in Aotearoa, creative arts therapists are trained through rigorous postgraduate programmes and often registered with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) or the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA), which upholds ethical practice and cultural competency. Practitioners are required to engage in ongoing professional development, often including supervision that reflects both clinical and cultural dimensions.

In a time where mental health services are in high demand, creative arts therapy offers an innovative, culturally relevant, and deeply humanising approach. By honouring the creative spirit in each individual and embracing the interconnectedness of wellbeing, creative arts therapy stands as a powerful and worthy practice within Aotearoa’s therapeutic landscape.

Where Art Meets Empathy: The Unique Power of Person-Centred Therapy in New Zealand

by Wilbyn Mitchell (11/03/2025)

In Aotearoa New Zealand, where the values of whanaungatanga (relationship), manaakitanga (care), and wairuatanga (spirituality) are deeply interwoven into everyday life, therapeutic approaches that honour the whole person are not just beneficial—they’re essential. Person-centred counselling, with its emphasis on empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity, offers a foundation of safety and respect that aligns naturally with these values. When integrated with creative arts therapy, this modality becomes a powerful, culturally responsive way to support emotional healing, self-discovery, and resilience.

At its heart, person-centred counselling trusts in the innate capacity of each individual to grow and heal when provided with the right conditions. Carl Rogers, who developed the approach, believed that the client is the expert in their own life. The counsellor’s role is to provide a non-judgmental, empathetic space in which the client can explore their experiences. This philosophy complements creative arts therapy perfectly, which also centres the client’s self-expression as the path to insight and transformation.

Creative arts therapy draws on modalities like visual art, music, movement, drama, and storytelling to allow clients to communicate what may be too complex, painful, or abstract to express with words alone. In a person-centred framework, the therapist does not interpret the artwork for the client but rather holds space for the client to find their own meanings. This honouring of the individual’s voice and narrative aligns with Māori principles of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) and acknowledges the holistic nature of wellbeing expressed through models like Te Whare Tapa Whā, which views health as the balance of spiritual, emotional, physical, and family/community dimensions.

What makes the combination of person-centred counselling and creative arts therapy especially powerful in the context of Aotearoa is its flexibility and responsiveness. It enables practitioners to work in a trauma-informed and culturally attuned way—particularly important in a nation with a history of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, and systemic inequalities. By valuing the process over the product and allowing the client to guide the journey, this approach supports reconnection with identity, culture, and story. It can be especially effective with tamariki (children), rangatahi (youth), and whānau (families), offering ways to engage in therapy that feel safe, playful, and empowering.

For creative arts therapy practitioners, grounding their work in person-centred principles is not only ethically sound but professionally enriching. It strengthens the therapeutic alliance, fosters genuine connection, and places the client's experience at the core. Whether in private practice, schools, or community organisations, this integrated approach allows for both structure and spaciousness—making room for creativity, culture, and healing to co-exist.

As the field of creative arts therapy continues to grow in Aotearoa New Zealand, embracing a person-centred approach ensures that practice remains deeply human, relational, and in touch with the diverse needs of our communities.

Embracing the Tides Within: The Power of Person-Centred Counselling in Aotearoa

by Wilbyn Mitchell (27/02/2025)

Person-centred counselling, originally developed by Carl Rogers, is a therapeutic approach grounded in the belief that every individual possesses the innate capacity for growth, healing, and self-understanding. Unlike directive models of counselling, person-centred therapy places the client at the heart of the process, offering a space defined by empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence (genuineness). These three "core conditions" enable clients to explore their inner world safely, build self-awareness, and find their own paths to well-being.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, person-centred counselling holds particular relevance due to its alignment with core values embedded in bicultural and multicultural practice. The approach’s respect for the client’s autonomy and worldview sits well alongside Māori concepts of mana (dignity, authority, and self-determination), whanaungatanga (relational connectedness), and tino rangatiratanga (self-leadership and sovereignty). By honouring a client’s lived experience and right to define their own meaning, person-centred counselling becomes a respectful, collaborative, and empowering method of support.

A unique strength of this approach lies in its non-pathologising stance. Rather than diagnosing or ‘fixing’ the client, the counsellor offers an accepting and empathetic presence, trusting that given the right conditions, the client will move toward growth. This is especially important in the New Zealand context, where communities often experience intergenerational trauma, systemic oppression, and marginalisation. For tangata whenua (indigenous Māori), Pacific peoples, and migrant communities, the person-centred approach can offer a space that acknowledges their holistic identity without reducing them to a diagnosis or label.

Person-centred counselling also complements indigenous models of wellbeing, such as Te Whare Tapa Whā, which frames wellbeing as a whare (house) with four dimensions: taha tinana (physical health), taha wairua (spiritual health), taha hinengaro (mental/emotional health), and taha whānau (family/social health). The person-centred approach supports the client to explore each of these areas, allowing room for cultural narratives, spiritual beliefs, and family dynamics to surface without judgment. In doing so, it upholds culturally responsive practice, an ethical responsibility for counsellors in Aotearoa under the Code of Ethics from the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

Another key strength is that person-centred counselling fosters a genuine, relational connection between counsellor and client. In a world where many clients feel unseen or dismissed by institutional systems, the power of being truly heard can be transformative. It reinforces the client’s sense of value and encourages the development of trust, an essential foundation for effective therapy.

In conclusion, person-centred counselling is more than just a technique—it is a way of being with clients that honours their dignity, trusts their inner wisdom, and embraces their cultural identity. In the diverse landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand, this approach continues to offer a respectful, inclusive, and deeply human way to support healing and growth.

The Intriguing Power of Connection: Why Counselling Stands Apart  

by Wilbyn Mitchell (21/02/2025)

Counselling holds a distinct and meaningful place in the landscape of mental health and personal development. At its core, counselling is a deeply human experience—one that supports individuals as they navigate challenges, discover insights, and create meaningful change. Unlike quick-fix solutions or generic self-help approaches, counselling offers something more profound: a safe, supportive environment that nurtures self-exploration, healing, and growth.

What sets counselling apart is its personalised approach. Each individual’s journey is unique, and counselling honours that by tailoring the process to suit the specific needs, goals, and circumstances of each person. Rather than providing prescriptive advice, counsellors act as guides—helping clients uncover their own strengths, values, and answers. This client-led model fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment, encouraging people to trust in their ability to make changes that are meaningful and sustainable.

Another compelling aspect of counselling is its focus on exploration and transformation. In the busyness of everyday life, people rarely get the chance to pause and reflect deeply on their emotions, relationships, and inner world. Counselling offers that space. Clients are invited to bring their fears, confusions, and hopes into a non-judgmental environment where they can be seen and heard. Through this process, many discover new perspectives or unearth buried beliefs that influence their behaviour and wellbeing. These insights often serve as catalysts for personal transformation—opening the door to improved communication, healthier relationships, and more authentic ways of living.

Central to this journey is the therapeutic relationship—a unique and powerful dynamic built on trust, empathy, and mutual respect. A strong alliance between counsellor and client is one of the best predictors of successful outcomes. When clients feel truly understood and supported, they are more willing to be vulnerable and take the emotional risks necessary for growth. Counsellors bring a range of interpersonal skills—such as active listening, emotional attunement, and reflective questioning—that help build this safe container for change.

Counselling’s versatility also contributes to its value. It can be applied to an incredibly broad range of challenges—from navigating grief and trauma to improving self-esteem, managing stress, or cultivating personal resilience. Counselling is not just about addressing problems; it’s equally about enhancing wellbeing, building emotional intelligence, and supporting people in becoming the best version of themselves.

Ultimately, the power of counselling lies in its ability to empower and foster resilience. Through this work, clients come to better understand their thoughts, emotions, and patterns. They learn coping strategies, reframe unhelpful beliefs, and develop the confidence to face life’s challenges head-on. It’s a process that promotes not only healing but also hope—reminding people that growth is always possible, no matter where they start.

In a world that often demands quick answers and constant productivity, counselling offers a rare opportunity: the time and space to slow down, reflect, and connect with what truly matters. And that, in itself, is something incredibly worthy.