Individual Counselling
Work through anxiety, depression, life transitions, and identity questions in a confidential, non-judgemental space. Sessions focus on understanding patterns and creating sustainable change.
Counselling in Wellington & Online
A space for listening, reflection, and meaningful change
Counselling and coaching for people navigating anxiety, relationships, and life transitions. Grounded in experience, focused on what you're actually facing.
About My Practice
I'm George Johnston, a counsellor completing my Master's in Counselling at Massey University (2026). I work with clients online throughout New Zealand and in person in Wellington.
Before entering formal counselling training, I spent eight years in community mental health through organisations like Coliberate and Pause Breathe Smile. I visited nearly 150 schools throughout New Zealand, trained 960 people in mental health first response, and co-facilitated Ngā Whetū Mārama, a community-developed mental health programme from Ōpōtiki. This work gave me deep experience in making psychological concepts accessible and understanding mental health in context.
The people I work with in private practice tend to be high achievers navigating anxiety, relationship patterns, identity questions, and life transitions. They're often successful by external measures while feeling unsatisfied internally, finding that previous frameworks no longer serve them.
My approach is pluralistic and human-centred, grounded in psychoanalytic, existential, and humanistic principles. I understand contemporary professional culture (tech, creative industries, knowledge work) through both psychological and structural lenses. I create space where you can be heard and supported as you navigate what you're actually facing.
How I Can Help
Relationship Support
Navigate relationship patterns, communication challenges, and attachment issues. Whether you're in a relationship or exploring past patterns, we work to understand what drives current dynamics.
Coaching
For people facing career transitions, leadership challenges, or professional identity questions. Combining psychological insight with practical strategy for meaningful change.
Online Counselling
Secure video sessions available throughout New Zealand. Same quality of care with the convenience of accessing support from anywhere with privacy and internet connection.
In-Person Sessions
Face-to-face counselling in Wellington provides a private, comfortable space for deep therapeutic work. Ideal for those who prefer the intimacy of in-person connection.
Life Transitions
Support during major life changes: career shifts, relationship endings or beginnings, relocations, identity exploration. Navigate uncertainty with clarity and self-compassion.
My Therapeutic Approach
I believe the answers come from you. My role is to help you articulate what you actually want and create conditions for meaningful change. That requires acceptance as foundational: of where you are now, what got you here, and what might come next.
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Pluralistic & Human-Centred
I draw from multiple therapeutic modalities (psychoanalytic, existential, humanistic), adapting to what serves you best. Your experience guides the approach.
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Psychoanalytic Foundation
Understanding unconscious patterns, relational dynamics, and how past experiences shape present behaviour. This means recognising what's actually driving current struggles, creating space for genuine insight.
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Existential Perspective
Embracing the fundamental questions of meaning, freedom, responsibility, and authenticity. Particularly relevant for life transitions and identity questions where external markers no longer provide direction.
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Culturally Responsive
Understanding that your experiences are shaped by culture, context, and power dynamics. This includes professional culture, family systems, and the specific pressures of contemporary life.
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Acceptance-Based
Real change begins with acceptance of what is. This creates space for authentic transformation and genuine movement towards what matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm currently completing my Master's in Counselling at Massey University (finishing 2026). Before entering formal counselling training, I spent eight years in community mental health education, training 960 people and working with approximately 150,000 children across New Zealand schools through organisations like Coliberate and Pause Breathe Smile.
I'm building a private practice while completing my formal qualifications, which means you're working with someone who brings substantial mental health experience and is deepening clinical training through current study and supervision.
The first session is about understanding what brought you to counselling and whether we're a good fit to work together. We'll discuss what you're experiencing, what you're hoping to work on, and how I approach counselling. This is also your opportunity to ask questions about the process, my background, and what to expect from ongoing sessions.
There's no pressure to share more than you're comfortable with. It's completely normal if you're uncertain about what you need. Part of the work is figuring that out together.
Yes, I offer secure video counselling sessions for clients throughout New Zealand. Online counselling provides the same quality of therapeutic relationship and support as in-person sessions, with the added convenience of accessing care from your own space.
All you need is a private space, reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone. Sessions are conducted through a secure, encrypted platform that prioritises your privacy and confidentiality.
Session fees are discussed during the free consultation and vary based on session length and frequency. I offer a sliding scale for students and those experiencing financial hardship. Please ask if this would be helpful.
Currently, I do not accept ACC claims. I can provide receipts for private health insurance claims if your policy covers counselling services. Payment is accepted via bank transfer or credit card through a secure platform.
There's no predetermined timeline for counselling. It depends entirely on what you're working through and what feels right for you. Some people find short-term work (6-12 sessions) sufficient for specific issues, while others benefit from longer-term support for deeper patterns and ongoing development.
We'll regularly check in about progress and whether continuing is serving you. You're always free to take breaks or conclude when it feels appropriate. We can discuss what ending well looks like for you.
Yes, everything discussed in sessions is completely confidential. I follow strict professional and ethical guidelines around privacy and will never share information about our work together without your explicit consent.
The only exceptions to confidentiality are if there's serious risk of harm to yourself or others, or if required by law. If such a situation arose, I would discuss it with you first whenever possible. Your trust and privacy are foundational to effective therapeutic work.
Start by booking a free 15-minute consultation through the Calendly link on this page. This gives us both a chance to see if we're a good fit before committing to ongoing sessions.
During the consultation, we'll discuss what you're looking for, answer any questions you have about the process, and schedule your first full session if we decide to work together. There's no obligation, just an honest conversation about what you're facing.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. Just an honest conversation about what you're facing.
Book Your Free Consultation