Psychosynthesis Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Supervisor

Kia Ora, Hola, Hi! I am Lorena, a qualified Psychosynthesis Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Supervisor in a well-established private practice helping people from all walks to find their own answers, inner resources, gifts, talents and wisdom and live thriving, purposeful, wholesome and authentic lives.

A bit about my story

Originally from Argentina, South America, I immigrated to New Zealand in 2003 with my family where I had the opportunity to pursue my studies and fulfill dreams.

My mum recalls that at age 6, I already knew I would live in an English-speaking country working with and for people. She asked me; “how would you possibly do that crazy child?”. I insisted for years to be sent to a private institute to learn English; I was determined to follow this ‘knowing’, my inner wisdom, despite any logic or reason. My heart was leading the way and drawing me closer to my purpose, closer to making a small difference in the world, to bring presence, compassion and understanding in the face of suffering. I didn’t know how I would do such a thing at the time of course; I just I kept listening to the little voice inside me and life brought me here. What a JOURNEY.

The road has been rich, full of serendipities, challenges and obstacles, rocky, confusing, painful and at times, paved with helpers along the way. Who would have thought that my own life experiences were the fertile ground and catalyst to my embarking into my own journey of self-discovery and healing. Suffering was an ally, and yes, I did not think in this way as I was going though rough and dark times. The one thing I was sure about was that my psychological and emotional well-being were ultimately the one thing that would make a difference in my life.

I turned to meditation and mindfulness, Buddhist philosophy and teachings, daily yoga and self-reflective practices as well as experiential learning through courses and training with the Psychosynthesis Insititute in New Zealand. As I searched for meaning I found myself, and by this, I mean the depth and richness of my being. Peeling the multiple layers surrounding the person I thought I was, was very confronting and challenging. Yet, there was a richness in the process, a sense of emerging aliveness that kept me persevering. I began to find strength in sitting with my pain, the despair, the anger, the fear, the shame, the resistance, the grief and loss, many crises, including my cultural and personal trauma. I developed a newly found sense of compassion for myself and for others, befriended my shadow and more importantly, I found a light in me that had been dimmed for many decades. Life with its challenges unfolded and brought me to where I am today; living a life in alignment with what is important and meaningful to me; a thriving, exiting and authentic life. Yoga, meditation practices and an active involvement in Buddhist Dhamma are integral aspects of my daily routine and essential to my mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

A bit about my professional background:

I have a varied and rich professional background; from Corporate and Business Sectors in South America to the Education and Mental Health Sector in New Zealand. I spent 2 years working as a volunteer counsellor at the Ngaruawahia Community Crisis Centre while running a private practice, have also worked extensively with people with disabilities as a Support Worker and also as a Process Facilitator, coached children with autism, been involved in Community Education and worked with minority groups and refugees from Colombia and Ecuador.

My Qualifications

• Diploma in Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy
• Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling
• Grad. Dip. Soc. Sci. – Waikato University
• Certificate in Professional Mentoring, Supervision and Coaching Skills – Unitec
• Certificate in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy- Level 1
• AGE Dip. Astrology

My Professional Affiliations:

• PBANZ- Registered Psychotherapist (Reg. No. 0582)
• NZAP – New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists
• MNZAC – New Zealand Association of Counsellors
• PANZA – Psychosynthesis Aotearoa New Zealand Australia

My professional responsibilities:

I take my work and your safety very seriously and I endeavor to provide professional services. I take notes after our sessions outlining the work we have covered on the day and these serve me as a “prompt” for our next session. These notes are kept in a locked cabinet to which I do only have access. If you ever wish to read these, you are welcome to do so at any time. In most instances, what we discuss in the room is confidential to both of us; there are some exceptions to this and I am happy to talk to you about it. I invite you to raise any discontent you may have about the services I provide with me first. If you are still not satisfied after our conversation, you can contact my Supervisor.