Paula

Ms Paula Moneypenny

Registered Counselor

“I am a compassionate and empathic Narrative Therapist with 14 years experience. I have excellent listening skills and work with clients to stand up to and overcome problems. I work with children, young people, adults, families and groups. I deliver a range of workshops and provide supervision to health practitioners.”

About Me

As a compassionate and empathic Narrative Therapist, I offer a space where your voice is truly heard. With 14 years experience and excellent listening skills, I work alongside children, young people, adults, and families. My narrative approach helps you explore challenges, finding the strength to stand up to and overcome problems. We collaborate to reframe your story, building confidence and new ways forward together.

Approach

You’ll find sessions grounded in close listening, gently naming patterns and opening space for new meanings. I work from Hamilton and online across Aotearoa in English, adjusting pace to suit individuals, young people and families so each session feels manageable and held. We use narrative questions, reflective tasks and practical ACT-informed experiments between meetings, helping you test different responses to anxiety, grief or relationship patterns. People who value steady, collaborative pacing tend to find this approach clarifying and hope-full.
Contact Paula

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

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)
  • Clinical Supervision

    Professional oversight and reflective practice for clinical practitioners, ensuring quality of care and supporting ongoing development.

  • Corporate Workshops

    Mental health and well-being workshops delivered in workplace settings, covering topics like stress management, resilience, and communication.

  • Counseling

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

    Learn more about Counseling
  • Trauma Counseling

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

    Learn more about Trauma Counseling
  • Wellness Support

    Holistic support focused on overall well-being, including stress management, lifestyle balance, and building sustainable healthy habits.

  • Mindfulness

    The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.

    Learn more about Mindfulness
  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Psychoeducation

    Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.

    Learn more about Psychoeducation
  • Somatic Psychotherapy

    A form of therapy focused on the connection between mind and body, using body awareness and movement to release held tension, trauma, and emotion.

  • Stress Management

    Techniques and strategies for managing the body and mind's response to excessive demands, including relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and lifestyle changes.

    Learn more about Stress Management

Works With:

  • All ages
  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Communities
  • Elderly
  • Families
  • Groups
  • Individuals
  • Organisations
  • Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Anxiety

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

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • 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
  • ADHD / Attention

    A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about ADHD / Attention
  • Autism (ASD)

    A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication, sensory processing, and behaviour patterns, with a wide range of presentations and strengths.

  • Grief & Loss

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.

    Learn more about Grief & Loss
  • 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
  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • Family Issues

    Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.

  • LGBTQI+ Support

    The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.

  • Trauma Therapy

    Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.

    Learn more about Trauma Therapy

Professional Title:

  • Registered Counselor

    A counselor who is formally registered with a professional or regulatory body.

Credentials

Registrations

New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)

Counsellor

Qualifications

University of Waikato

Waikato Institute of Technology

Service Areas

Paula Moneypenny Counsellor & Supervisor

In-person & Online

Hamilton East

Hamilton, Waikato

New Zealand