LifeCo Psychology team member Anthony is a aligned with Ace Counselling and trained as a Counsellor in the United Kingdom graduating with an Advanced Diploma in Counselling in June 2005.
Following his graduation, he worked in the UK as both an Addictions Counsellor and volunteer with an LGBT organisation for 2 years. Anthony also has experience working with sexual abuse, sexual health, HIV and Hepatitis C, and female survivors of family violence. He gained experience setting up and running a needle exchange for people with drug abuse. Anthony also volunteered with the UK Mental Health Helpline for two years.
Since arriving in New Zealand in 2011, Anthony has been working in the Mental Health and Addictions team at Whanganui District Health Board with youth and adult clients. He says “In my experience, clients who present with these challenges usually have underlying trauma, which in turn can trigger their drug and alcohol use. Therefore, working with the trauma they have experienced is beneficial to work towards reduction/abstinence of the addiction”. Anthony is a qualified, experienced, person-centred Counsellor/Therapist. He works in an eclectic way, guiding people through their ambivalence to help them make changes to improve their quality of life. Treatment modalities used include Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and psycho-education relating to coping strategies such as distraction, self-soothing, relaxation, and breathing techniques.
Anthony has found that using a non-judgmental, empathic, and genuine approach has enabled him to build a strong rapport and engagement with his clients with a focus on helping clients gain their own self-efficacy, autonomy and self-direction in order to support a successful recovery.
Anthony’s Professional Registration is with the Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand. He ACC Sensitive Claims accredited.