About
Working With Me
My name is Matt Nicholson, and I am the Director of Bays Counselling. I grew up and now live and work on the North Shore here in Auckland. I hold degrees in Counselling and Education and a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.
I have access to counselling rooms in the Central City, North Shore and Hibiscus Coast, but I also work widely with people online.
In reading this people may be thinking and/ or feeling a number of things about themselves (or someone near to them that they know feels like this). The feelings might be, “vulnerable”, “ashamed” or just very sensitive about talking to a stranger about things that are very, very personal and real.
By having someone to talk to, people can begin the journey of caring for themselves, or for others in their life. With those who struggle I work together towards finding a pathway where they feel they can clearly understand their difficulties, what they might do about them, and navigate towards more preferred ways of living their best life. In this I can help.
As a qualified counsellor my aim is to work ethically in partnership with those who struggle, whatever they or their whanau’s age or situation. My aim is to support and understand the needs of those I work with. I act with compassion and empathy, and most importantly, my counselling service is completely confidential.
It’s important to know that people don’t have to face it all on their own. I can help in guiding them through life’s tough moments, to listen without judgment and provide the support to find the courage they need. It can make all the difference.
People can call or message me at Bays Counselling to discuss needs and how I can help them to be in a better place to meet them.
I work face to face and online, at times to suit those I work with.
People can leave a voice message stating their name, number and how they would prefer to be contacted and I will reply promptly and discreetly to further discuss how I might help.
My Philosophy in Counselling Others
Largely I work from the therapeutic perspective as found in Narrative Therapy. This is where the counsellor works with a person to take control of their own stories and re-create more meaningful, purposeful, and satisfying ones, freeing them from limiting past experiences that they have come to believe are of their own making, or fault.
Often these ideas people get about themselves and their identity are created through labels they are given by others. By having a label to describe a situation it can, at times, be helpful or reassuring, it can also have the capacity to take away a person’s ability to be a part of helping or healing themselves. That’s why I believe the process of “counselling” is a very collaborative one. One where the person being counselled is supported to find ways of being or resolving whatever difficulties they are experiencing.
I don’t see my role as being the expert “fixer”, “healer” or “advice giver”. From my perspective, I am there to support the person to more fully understand what they are experiencing or have experienced that brings them to work with me. I want to know what other stories they might tell me about themselves that might be helpful to them. Of how they might develop thinking and feeling that moves them towards a place that better fits with their ideas of the person they would prefer to be and the life they would prefer to live.
About Me
I’m passionate about working with individuals, couples, families, and organizations to create space from the challenges they face and move toward lives that reflect their values and hopes for themselves and/ or others.
I know how hard it can be to reach out for support when problems feel overwhelming.
My commitment is to support a person in stepping away from what’s keeping them feeling stuck and moving toward a life they would truly prefer to live.
Life brings challenges, and relationships often stir up complexity. Things don’t always unfold in the ways we hope, imagine, or intend.
I hold a strong belief in our capacity to pursue meaningful lives—both on our own and alongside those we care about—in ways that are guided by our values, commitments, and hopes for the future.
In our work together, I will show up as a warm and active collaborator. Together we’ll explore the stories that have shaped their experiences and what may be keeping them stuck. We’ll look for space between themselves and the problems they face, making room for new perspectives, possibilities, and preferred ways of being in their lives.
Career
On leaving school I first worked in horticulture. Over time I worked as an orchardist, gardener, nurseryman and landscaper. Following this I worked as a kitchen hand in cafes while caring for my first two children. I then attended university gaining my Education degree and teaching diploma (Primary). After many years teaching I left to become self-employed in property development and maintenance. In 2022 I began my Counselling degree majoring in Addiction Studies.
I am a Provisional Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC).
Areas of Interest
My main area of interest is working with those who potentially have challenges with the following:
– stress, anxiety and depression
– relationship issues for individuals, including communication and conflict
– adults (all ages) – especially in later life, managing relationships and being resilient to changes into old age
– supporting those with addictions, and mis-use and abuse of substances
– supporting young adults to build their capacity to live life with purpose and confidence
Qualifications
Bachelors Degree in Counselling
Bachelors Degree in Teaching
Research
Currently I am involved in further researching what are often termed in psychology as, “addictive behaviours”. I am interested in behaviours associated with the label given to a person’s difficulties, the origins of their description and how it makes them feel, think and act. I am also further researching current treatment methods and their influence on those who are subject to them.
Personal
I have four adult children and three grandchildren. My main interests are playing guitar, writing, reading, kayaking, swimming, beekeeping and cooking. I was born and spent my school years on the North Shore in Auckland before living for many years in the city, and in recent times I’ve returned to live here again. I have had a few different careers and many formative experiences and lessons resulting from all of what that has meant for me. My life as a partner, parent and grandfather continues to teach me much. As a child I had a physical deformity which, as I went through life, helped me to learn to be resilient, accepting, empathic and compassionate towards others. Later in life I faced challenges associated with substance mis-use and the effects of that on my relationships with family and others, so I have had to learn a lot about managing change and conflict, and seeking ways of working towards being a better, more fulfilled person.