STAROS Chat Evenings
Following the success of the Grassroots Speaker Series days we've decided to hold individual speaker evenings throughout the year where we invite people to come and talk about who they are and what they do and is another opportunity to connect with more of the amazing people we have in our community. The evenings will be held at the STAROS Trust office at 212 Queen St East, Hastings and will run from 6:00pm to 7:00pm followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to talk with the speakers and us before heading home.
Entry is FREE but if you're interested in coming along let us know so we can cater accordingly.
Wednesday 2nd November
Helen Bryant
Helen will talk about her role as a counsellor, what a counsellor is from her perspective and aims to soften the traditional barriers associated with what seeing a counsellor means.
Helen Bryant
Hi I’m Helen,
I emigrated to Aotearoa from the UK in 2006 with my two daughters; I am now a permanent resident and call Aotearoa home. I lived in Hamilton for 13 years before moving to Hawkes Bay in 2019.
I have had many careers over my lifetime, and my personal and professional experiences led me to complete a counselling degree while living here in New Zealand. I have worked as a counsellor for children from the ages of 3-17, as a family counsellor and as part of a crisis team offering support for historic or current sexual abuse trauma, collaborating with a specialised police and medical team. Through personal experience and in my counselling role, I have supported people through the impacts of suicide. Since living in Hawkes Bay, I achieved my goal of being in private practice from Feb 2020 and also do contract support for other agencies.
l am of the belief that a person is an expert of their own life story. I believe a person needs to have a voice in all aspects of their life journey, to feel heard in a non-judgemental, supportive, and safe environment, to encourage a person towards identifying patterns of behaviour which may be impacting on their everyday life. I am passionate about supporting a person towards healthier wellbeing outcomes in a trusted relationship, feeling supported every step of the way.
I use a variety of therapeutic modalities because I believe one size does not fit all. I have used Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) Sand tray therapy, Solution-focused therapy and observe the Māori model Te whare tapa whā (all four corners of a person’s wellbeing), encompassing Taha Tinana – physical / body, Taha Hinengaro – feelings/ emotions, Taha Whānau – family/ relationships with others, Taha Wairua – spiritual / cultural beliefs, as a guide to support a person as they reflect on who they are and what they need to achieve greater wellbeing and fulfilment.