Nicky Baigent

Graduate Diploma Psychotherapy (A.U.T. Auckland) BA HONS Drama and Expressive Arts (UK) Post Graduate Teaching Certificate in Drama and Art (UK) Early Childhood Teaching Certificate (NZ) Registered Psychotherapist (PBANZ; full member NZAP)

Clayburn House Therapy Centre,
10a Clayburn Road, Glen Eden, Auckland 0602.

Phone: 021 141 9311
Email: nbaigent@hotmail.com

NB: My practice is currently full, so at this time I am unable to take new clients.

Background & Experience

I enjoy working with a wide and diverse range of clients, aged between 17 and 68 years currently, both individuals and couples. I graduated as a  psychotherapist in 2002, and have a particular interest and skill base in working with trauma, depression, grief, loss and problems with early attachment. I believe the relationship established between therapist and client is the most important foundation for enabling significant healing to occur. Building safety and trust so that both presenting problems and deeper, underlying issues can be explored and worked through, in a way which can be transformative.

I have a background in teaching drama, both in the U.K. and here. I have used it as a vehicle to help children in particular, to express their emotions, and work through distress. My training as a psychotherapist was born out of my interest in early attachment, and how our primary relationships when growing-up, can profoundly effect the way we feel about ourselves and influence the way we form relationships.

I work psychodynamically (looking at how the past impacts on the present), and sometimes incorporate expressive therapy when it is helpful. Expressive therapy includes sand tray therapy / art therapy / gestalt therapy and drama therapy.

Skills and strengths

My skills and strengths include the following:

• I have a wealth of experience working with trauma and abuse / grief and loss / estrangement and exile / adjustment issues and the problems associated with settling into a new country.
• Difficulties with self assertion: helping clients build self confidence and self esteem. Exploring ways to express emotions and thoughts in ways which can be empowering and validating. This can have lasting effect in the workplace, or marriage, or relationship with a parent, friend or colleague.
• Difficulties with communication: helping clients find NEW ways of being in relationship, both with themselves and people encountered in everyday life. New ways of being in the world: of being with friends or family who may have disappointed them, and let them down.
• Difficulties with anger management and conflict
• Problems with sexuality including sexual orientation
• Performance anxiety: including difficulties with breathing, breathlessness, speechlessness, hyperventilation syndrome and voice constrictions. (Sometimes clients feel they have words 'trapped' inside them and can find it hard to even find their own voice and what they want to say).

I look forward to your enquiry.