What is your background and training?

A brief description of my work experience and my present qualifications to counsel. Also a note about the professional body I am accountable to.

My Qualifications and Work Background

Both Basic and Advanced Certificates in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
I have produced extensive online material and provide correspondence courses to teach this approach to counselling in a useful self-help format. It is applied by way of media including telephone, email, and internet chat room venues, besides my face to face applications in a counselling room.

Post-graduate studies in Counselling Theory - Massey University NZ
This was a masters level theory paper to round off the broad experiential base I bring to the counselling interaction to enter membership of the professional body NZAC.

Pastoral community work
Fifteen years experience providing pastoral support and counsel as a Presbyterian Minister among a broad range of people in community (areas include both rural and suburban). The general nature of the rural area required a broad range of social and personal skills to meet the needs of a rural community and people employed in associated industries.

Industrial Chaplain/Counsellor
Ten years experience as an Industrial Chaplain/Counsellor in the workplace providing workplace support to a variety of industrial work-sites and workplaces in Dairy; Forest; Engineering; Service Industries and Educational Institutions. I also setting up and providing Internet Counselling services to remote offices and workplaces.

Workshop Convenor and Teacher
Workshop Provider of:

1. CHOOSE to be HAPPY seminar


2. REFRAME Handling Change Seminar


3. REFRAME RELATIONSHIP Upset resolution using REFRAME seminar

Fully Accredited Member of NZAC
As a full member of NZAC, I am committed to the full NZAC Code of Ethics. I am regularly supervised by a senior professional colleague (clinical psychologist) to assure the effective delivery and ongoing professional development of counselling services.

Bachelor of Theology - Otago University NZ 1992.
This involved a sound basis in philosophy; theology and sociology anchored in practical applications in the community. My major was in the pastoral application of my learnings. During my degree work I opted for extra workshops, papers, and other training to enhance practical people helping skills. My thesis was on "Spiritual Education with Children".

2010 Accredited Trainer and Practitioner for "The Resilience Doughnut" Resilience training for community, parents, primary and secondary school age pupils. Strength-Based Counselling Support.

Personal Work Background
I have a broad background from my being employed in various places as an engineer to managing my own retail-manufacturer business for 11 years. The specific fields of employment include manufacturing industry and aircraft and aircraft engine maintenance and rebuilds; I have an active interest in website building and maintenance with particular interest in applying Internet facilities to people prepared to be proactive in helping themselves figure out solutions to personal issues.