About Pam
I believe counselling begins with feeling genuinely heard, understood and accepted.
Clients often describe me as calm, genuine and easy to talk to.
My approach is warm, down-to-earth and collaborative. I offer a space where you can slow things down, make sense of what is happening beneath the surface, and explore what you may need to move forward.
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every person brings their own story, experiences, strengths and challenges, so I shape our work around you and what feels most helpful.
My approach has also been shaped by my own experiences of navigating life’s challenges and transitions. My experiences of parenting, grief, cancer and adoption have deepened my appreciation for compassion, honesty and hope, and for the importance of having someone alongside us when life feels difficult.
My Approach to Counselling
I draw from a range of counselling approaches, choosing what may be most helpful for you rather than expecting you to fit into one particular model.
Our work may involve exploring emotions and patterns, understanding how past experiences influence the present, recognising your strengths, developing practical tools, or simply having space to slow down and make sense of what is happening.
At the heart of my work is the relationship we build together, a space where you can feel heard, respected and supported as we explore what you need and what moving forward might look like.
Experience and Qualifications
I am a qualified counsellor with a Bachelor of Counselling from Laidlaw College and a provisional member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC).
My counselling experience has included private practice and placements across a range of community and therapeutic settings, including the Women’s Centre, Drug-ARM, Adventure-based therapy, and working within a men’s prison environment. These experiences have allowed me to work alongside people from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of life experiences and challenges.
I am also an Accredited CliftonStrengths Coach, which allows me to bring a strengths-based perspective into both counselling and businesses.
I regularly undertake professional development and ongoing clinical supervision, continuing to develop my practice and draw from a range of evidence-informed counselling approaches.
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
Bachelor of Counselling — Laidlaw College
Person-Centred Therapy - Narrative Therapy - Te Whare Tapa Whā health model
Diploma in Psychology and Counselling
Provisional Member — New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)
CliftonStrengths Accredited Coach
Additional Training and Professional Development
Attachment-Based Therapy - EFiT Emotional Focused Individual Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy
Small Figures Therapy
EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques/Tapping — Levels 1 & 2
Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed
Certificate in Grief Counselling
Ongoing professional development and clinical supervision
Registered Provider
Registered Work and Income (WINZ) counselling provider
Victim Support counselling provider
A Little About Me
Outside the counselling room, I’m a mum of two young adults and enjoy spending time with my family and in the outdoors, particularly tramping in some of New Zealand’s beautiful places. Being in nature is something I find grounding and restorative, and many of the river and landscape images you see throughout this website come from places I have explored myself.
The name Gentle Flow reflects something I value both personally and in my counselling work: life doesn’t always follow a straight or predictable path. Sometimes we find ourselves in calm waters, sometimes navigating rocks and unexpected turns, and sometimes needing space to pause before finding our way forward.
I bring that same sense of warmth, curiosity and humanity into the counselling room. You don’t need to arrive with the right words or have everything figured out; we can begin wherever you are.
The story behind Gentle Flow
The name Gentle Flow Counselling has a personal meaning for me.
When my much-loved dog, Scooter, reached the end of his life, I wanted to care for him and say goodbye in a way that felt gentle and respectful. After he passed, I chose gentle water cremation.
That experience stayed with me, and the words Gentle Flow came to represent something I also value deeply in counselling: that we don't always need to force change or have everything figured out. Sometimes we need a safe space to pause, be supported, and gently find our way through what life has brought us.
For me, Gentle Flow is about compassion, acceptance and moving forward at your own pace.
Pets are welcome too.
Animals can be an important source of comfort, connection and support. I’ve had clients bring their dogs along to counselling, and they are very welcome in my counselling room. If having your pet beside you would help you feel more comfortable, just let me know beforehand.
