My Approach
I’m Kim Ellett, a counsellor based in Parnell, Auckland, supporting adults, children and families navigating stress, burnout and life transitions.
These may include career and leadership pressures, returning to work, family changes, relationship strain, or times when identity, confidence, or direction feel uncertain.
How I work
My approach to counselling is integrated and grounded in understanding the whole person - not just the issue that brings someone in to see me.
This means that together, we consider:
emotional wellbeing
stress load and daily pressures
relationships and environment
patterns that may be contributing to feeling stuck
I work in a calm, practical way, at your pace, supporting realistic, sustainable change. First, we ‘reset’ and then we ‘restore’.
Working with Children and Families
My work with children is grounded in building trust and understanding behaviour as communication.
I also work alongside parents and families to support a more connected and stable home environment. This may involve a combination of individual and family sessions, depending on what is most helpful to you.
My Background
Earlier in my career, I worked in leadership roles within the communications industry, where I developed a deep understanding of workplace dynamics, performance pressures and the emotional demands placed on individuals and teams across all levels of an organisation. Over time, I felt increasingly drawn to supporting people more directly, and chose to step away from the corporate environment to further study health, wellbeing and counselling.
I completed a Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Education, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling. My academic work has included research focused on workplace burnout and sustainable wellbeing.
Through both study and practice, I have come to appreciate the complexity each individual brings. No two people — or organisations — are the same. I do not work from assumptions. Instead, we take time to understand your context, values, and goals, and build a plan collaboratively that reflects your unique situation.
I am provisionally accredited with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) and practise in accordance with its Code of Ethics.
My work draws on narrative and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles, alongside a strengths-based and values-led approach. I believe meaningful change begins with feeling heard and understood. I take time to build trust so that clients feel safe to explore challenges, reframe unhelpful patterns and move forward with greater confidence.
My Integrated Approach
I recognise that emotional well-being does not exist in isolation.
Where relevant, we may explore lifestyle factors such as stress load, rest, movement, and daily structure to support resilience and sustainable change.
I also value collaboration and, where appropriate, can connect clients with trusted professionals. These may include practitioners in nutrition, movement, physiotherapy, and naturopathy — carefully selected and aligned with your goals.