Evelyn Shackley Psychotherapist

MA Psychotherapy, DipHIP, PBANZ reg, NZAP member,

MSc Psychology

Psychotherapy2b

To be, or not to be, that is the question…

To sleep, perchance to Dream.

William Shakespeare

“There are natural transformation processes which simply happen to us, whether we like it or not, and whether we know it or not. Natural transformation processes announce themselves mainly in dreams”

— C G Jung

A little bit about me

After I qualified as a Psychologist in 1990 from the University of Canterbury, I worked in business specialising in Learning and Development.

In 2010 I began my Psychotherapy training with Middlesex University London via Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC). I started working with clients, under supervision, in 2011.

I hold a MA in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy and a MSc in Psychology, along with a scientific bachelor’s degree.

I am registered with The Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (PBANZ) and am a member of New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (NZAP).

Who do I work with?

I specialise in working with adults who face challenges in relationships, bullying, alcohol dependency, anxiety, and depression. Many of my clients have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse or neglect during their childhood and/or as adults. As a result, they may find it difficult to form close relationships, experience a sense of emptiness, constantly worry about making mistakes, struggle to assert themselves, maintain a busy lifestyle, harbour anger or frustration towards others, feel a lack of direction in life, and resort to self-soothing behaviors, such as alcohol, to ease their journey.

My passion lies in supporting individuals to process their experiences, enabling them to realise their full potential and attain a sense of inner peace. I am particularly drawn to working at a profound level with preverbal and ancestral trauma. If you resonate with these challenges and are seeking transformation, a sense of peace, and a better place to be I am here to help guide you on your journey.

How does Psychotherapy work?

Psychotherapy, distinct from psychology and psychiatry, is a collaborative working relationship without diagnostic labels or direct instructions. As a Humanistic and Integrative psychotherapist, I draw from five branches of theory:

1

Humanistic Foundation: Believing in inherent skills for personal growth, this approach involves metaphorically walking alongside clients, listening, and exploring experiences with theorists such as Rogers, Perls, Reich, and Post Reichian.

2

Psychoanalysis and Object Relations: Identifying patterns in behaviors, this branch (Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Bowlby) helps uncover unconscious repetitions and explore underlying issues.

3

Relational Therapy: Incorporating intersubjective psychotherapy (Stolorow and Atwood), this branch focuses on examining and potentially revising self-limiting rules formed in early relationships.

4

Transpersonal Perspective: Taking a broader view of an individual's place in the world (Jung, Frankl), considering personal and ancestral experiences, and exploring dreams.

5

Behavioral Branch: Identifying behaviors, similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), involves practical tools such as weekly check-ins for self-reflection.

What Work Have I Done?

Qualifications:

  • MA in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy from Middlesex University London

  • DipHIP from Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC)

  • MSc in Industrial Organisational Psychology from Canterbury University

  • Post-graduate paper in Career Development and Assessment from Massey University

  • BSc in Zoology from Canterbury University

Training Period (2010-2018):

  • Comprehensive training covering a wide range of theories, practices, and methodologies

  • Thesis for MA Psychotherapy ‘Awakening the Animus Archetype - The cost of poverty for the female foetus’

  • Engaged in two mental health placements:

    • Collaborated with several NHS Mental Health Teams (UK)

    • Contributed to The SWAN Project, supporting clients dealing with alcohol-related struggles (UK)

Private Practice:

  • Operated in private practice in Bristol (UK) from 2011 to 2022

  • Returned to New Zealand in 2022, continuing to offer dedicated therapeutic services

Career Experience (1985 onwards):

  • Various roles including sales, generalist HR, learning and development, and leadership within private, public, and corporate sectors

  • Operations Manager at The Green House, a charity focused on healing from sexual abuse (UK)

Contact me

If you are interested in setting up an initial session, to see if we can work together, or you have a question you want to ask, please feel free to email me. Alternatively you can call or text, using the number below.