Resources & support
Find out more about the different types of therapy we provide as well as other queer and mental health services.
Types of therapy
What is CBT?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) explores the connection between what we think and how it can affect the way we feel and behave. CBT examines thoughts, mental images, memories, emotions, bodily sensations and behaviour. It helps you identify, study and reframe unhelpful thoughts, assumptions and core beliefs.
What is DBT?
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that is based on CBT. DBT is a way to explore how two things that seem opposite could both be true. For example, self-acceptance and changing your behaviour might feel contradictory. But with DBT it's possible to work towards both these goals at the same time.
Learn more about DBT in this video from Rogers Behavioural health ↗
What is ACT?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a behaviour-based therapy that is about aligning your actions with your core values to help you become more like the sort of person you want to be. It’s also about “mindful” action. This means doing things consciously while being open to all experiences and emotions. The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich and meaningful life, while effectively handling the pain that inevitably goes with it.
What is FACT?
Focused Acceptance Commitment Therapy (FACT) is a condensed and usually briefer version of ACT that can be effective in as few as 1-3 sessions. It targets specific problems by helping you open up and become more present. FACT can help when feeling stuck by shifting the focus away from what you cannot control and toward what you can.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a way to reduce distressing emotions associated with trauma. It involves using rhythmic eye movements while recalling traumatic memories and life-experiences. By doing this we enable the brain to reprocess these memories and this allows normal healing to resume.
Learn more about EMDR at emdr.org.nz ↗
Watch a walkthrough of a typical EMDR session with The Lukin Centre ↗
What is Narrative Therapy?
Narrative therapy seeks to be a respectful, non-blaming approach to therapeutic and community work which centres people as the experts in their own lives. It views problems as separate from people and assumes people have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, commitments and abilities that will assist them to reduce the influence of problems in their lives.
LGBTQIA+ resources
InsideOUT
A national organisation that works with youth, whānau, schools, community groups, youth services, government agencies and other relevant organisations to provide safer schools and communities for rainbow (LGBTQIA+) young people.
Gender Minorities Aotearoa
Gender Minorities Aotearoa is a nationwide transgender organisation. It is run by and for transgender people; including binary and non-binary, intersex, and irawhiti takatāpui. They support transgender people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, and provide one-to-one peer support and information nationwide.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (formerly New Zealand AIDS Foundation & Ending HIV NZ) has been at the forefront of the community response to HIV in Aotearoa for nearly 40 years.
OutLine
Confidential, free, all-ages support line, rainbow specialist counselling and trans peer support.
Rainbow Youth
Rainbow Youth provide strengths-based peer support that considers hauora, resilience, cultural identities, and individual journeys.
Gender Affirming Surgery Service
Gender Affirming (Genital) Surgery Service has been established to help more transgender and non-binary people access publicly-funded gender affirming genital surgery in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Service has been funded for the delivery of up to 14 surgeries per year.
Kahukura
Kahukura is dedicated to building Takatāpui and Rainbow communities in Aotearoa New Zealand free of family, partner, and sexual violence. They offer a range of services to LGBTQIA+ people and they have an excellent resources section on their website
Immediate support
1737
1737 is Aotearoa/New Zealand’s national mental health & addictions helpline number. It offers free 24/7 text and phone support provided by trained counsellors and peer support workers.
Lifeline
Lifeline Aotearoa offer free 24/7 helpline services (text and phone) that are answered by their highly trained team from centres in Auckland and Christchurch.
Youthline
Youthline offer a free 24/7 helpline service (text, phone and chat), free face-to-face counselling services, youth mentoring, and programmes in communities to help people grow.
Region-specific mental health crisis services
Each region of Aotearoa/New Zealand has its own public mental health crisis service. Please refer to this Ministry of Health directory to find your local service.