Sarah Lassally

Services: I provide counselling and support for individuals, couples, and families, creating a space with the potential to clear the obstacles to happiness. I am a Psychosynthesis trained counsellor and an addictions specialist. Psychosynthesis aims to help people to find meaning and purpose in life as an anchor to weather life’s storms, and as a means of engaging one’s will to create change and move towards desired outcomes.

Approach: My personal philosophy is that since most of our wounding occurs in relationship, there is the potential to heal that wounding within the counselling relationship. I support people to develop distress tolerance and emotional resilience to prevent the overwhelm that can occur when facing life’s challenges. I welcome dream work as I believe this is useful way to access our unconscious and the issues that are trying to get our attention.

Addictions: I take a holistic approach to addiction treatment considering all the contributing factors; biological, social, psychological, and spiritual, for example insecure attachment as a child, abuse, family environment, trauma, etc. I believe the 12 Step model is a useful supporting framework although I work with a number of different models of treatment. I meet clients where they are at and collaborate with them to create the most beneficial pathway to address firstly the drug addiction, and then the underlying issues.

Couples: I work with couples using the Imago model, which introduces a structured way to communicate with our partners, slowing down the process and creating safety, whilst opening up the possibility for greater understanding and empathy for the different perspectives held by each partner. I specialise in working with couples where one, or both, partners are in recovery from addiction.

Supervision: I’m a DAPAANZ accredited supervisor, providing supervision for counsellors and, in particular, practitioners working in the field of drug and alcohol and/or mental health. I am an addictions specialist with a background of working in a therapeutic community within a 12 step framework. I also have a Psychosynthesis lens and an Imago lens with couples work. As a member of NZAC I can support provisionally registered counsellors working towards full membership.

Experience: In addition, I have a background in midwifery, mental health, and child protection. I contract to Higher Ground Drug and Alcohol Rehab. I have extensive knowledge of family violence and work in this field in a voluntary capacity.  I work with people with a range of presenting issues including trauma, sexual abuse, family violence, addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, grief and loss, including losing one’s way in life.

Fees: I have a sliding scale and I’m happy to assist people to access WINZ support for counselling if they are eligible.