Jonathan

Mr Jonathan Kirk, M.Couns

Mental Health Counselor

Verified

“I provide person-centred, evidence-based counselling for teens, adults, and couples navigating anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. My style is warm, grounded, practical, and collaborative, with sessions available in person in Howick, Auckland, and online throughout New Zealand.”

About Me

Kia ora, I'm Jonathan Kirk, counsellor and founder of Four Pillars Counselling in Howick, Auckland. At the heart of my work is a strong foundation of trust. I support teens, adults, and couples from diverse backgrounds who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, low in mood, or uncertain about their next direction. They may be navigating anxiety, depression, stress, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, or major life transitions. Often, they have been coping on their own for a long time and are ready for support. Originally from the United States, I bring over a decade of experience across counselling, helping professions, coaching, leadership, and personal development. While I am newer to private practice in New Zealand, I draw on a broad range of experience supporting people through challenges, change, and personal growth. I believe counselling should be a safe, non-judgemental space where you feel heard, understood, and respected. Together, we work to better understand what you are facing, explore what matters most, and find a way forward that fits your life.

Approach

My approach is person-centred, integrative, and collaborative. I work from the belief that you are the expert in your own life, and that counselling works best when it is shaped around your goals, values, relationships, culture, and lived experience. Rather than relying on a single model, I draw from a range of evidence-based and humanistic approaches including Person-Centred Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Strength-Based practice, Existential Therapy, Te Whare Tapa Whā, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Together, we combine practical tools with deeper reflection to help you understand patterns, strengthen relationships, clarify values, navigate challenges, and create meaningful, lasting change. My style is warm and reflective while remaining grounded and practical.
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Basic Information
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In-person & Online

Services

I provide counselling for teens, adults, and couples. Common areas I support include anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, grief and loss, self-esteem concerns, identity questions, relationship difficulties, family conflict, trauma, and life transitions. I also provide Gottman-informed couples counselling for partners wanting to improve communication, understand recurring conflict patterns, rebuild trust, strengthen emotional connection, and create healthier ways of relating. Sessions are available in person in Howick, Auckland, and online throughout New Zealand.

Services Offered:

  • ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)

    A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.

    Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
  • CBT

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.

    Learn more about CBT
  • Online Counselling

    Counselling conducted via video, phone, or secure messaging, providing professional support remotely.

    Learn more about Online Counselling
  • Relationship Counselling

    Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.

  • SFT (Solution-Focused Therapy)

    A goal-oriented approach that draws on a person's existing strengths and resources to build practical, future-focused solutions, rather than dwelling on the causes of difficulties.

  • Counselling

    A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.

    Learn more about Counselling
  • Narrative Therapy

    A therapy that helps people separate themselves from their problems by exploring and reauthoring the stories they tell about their lives, drawing out values, strengths, and preferred identities.

  • Trauma Counselling

    Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

    Learn more about Trauma Counselling
  • MBCT (Mindfulness-Based CBT)

    A therapy combining mindfulness meditation with cognitive behavioural techniques, designed particularly to prevent relapse in depression.

    Learn more about MBCT (Mindfulness-Based CBT)

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Couples
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Depression

    A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.

    Learn more about Depression
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss, varying widely in duration and expression.

    Learn more about Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  • Identity & Self-Image

    A person's sense of who they are, including their values, beliefs, roles, and self-perception, and the distress that arises when this sense is unclear, fragmented, or negative.

  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • Men's Issues

    Psychological challenges commonly experienced by men, including difficulty expressing emotions, anger, relationship struggles, fatherhood pressures, and societal expectations of masculinity.

  • Relationship Issues

    Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.

    Learn more about Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem

    A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.

    Learn more about Self-Esteem
  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout
  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma

Professional Title:

  • Mental Health Counselor

    A counselor trained to assess and treat mental health conditions through talk therapy.

Credentials

Qualifications

Master of Counselling

University of Auckland

Year: 2027

Bachelor of Arts

Boise State University

Year: 2018

Memberships

New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

Provisional Member

Membership: 15776

Service Areas

Four Pillars Counselling at the Crawford Wellness Centre

In-person & Online

Howick

Howick Local Board, Auckland 2014

New Zealand

Also serving online:

Auckland · Wellington · Christchurch

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