We offer free and confidential short-term counselling, helping to equip you to deal with life's challenges.

If you're seeking support in relation to your mental health and wellbeing, we offer free counselling services. Our counsellors use a range of therapeutic approaches to better equip people to deal with life’s challenges.

This service is available to:

• People living with HIV 
• People affected by HIV (e.g. partners, whānau and friends)
• Men who have sex with men

What can I talk to counsellors about?

Every person's situation is different. These are some of the types of things our clients work through with us:

• Managing a new HIV diagnosis
• Living with HIV (eg: the impact of stigma)
• Ageing with HIV
• Supporting a significant other/whānau with HIV
• Sexual and gender identity
• Sexual behaviour including sexual dysfunction and sex addiction
• Anxiety and depression
• Self-esteem and self-care
• Relationship issues
• Grief and loss
• Substance use and harm minimisation (Please note we are not specialists in substance use and harm minimisation)
  

Other services providers that may be helpful

• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor 
• Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
• Safetotalk.nz  – sexual harm helpline
• Healthline – 0800 611 116
• Samaritans – 0800 726 666 
• Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions)
• OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) provides confidential telephone support 
• Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 
• Are You OK – 0800 456 450 family violence helpline
• Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655
• Anxiety phone line – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
• Shine - 0508 744 633 domestic abuse helpline 

Richard Nind - Auckland

Originally from the UK, I moved to Auckland with my partner (now husband) in 2002. I have worked with many different cultures and I have a particular interest in working with survivors of sexual abuse and trauma, grief and loss, sexuality, self-esteem, and identity and helping couples navigate difficult times in their relationships.

My counselling approach is to provide a safe and non-judgemental environment for my clients. Therapy often involves providing emotional support for people adjusting to living with HIV or developing new skills in relationship and self-management as well as processing internalised shame or homophobia. Clients also seek therapy to improve their self-esteem, to understand themselves so they can experience fulfilling relationships, to help with the coming out process, or to be able to change unhelpful thinking and behavioural patterns.

I am happy to work with couples and individuals. I work at the Burnett Centre on Wednesday evenings and Thursday daytime only.  

I am a registered member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

Mark McGoram - Auckland

I have been counselling at the New Zealand Aids Foundation since 2019, working with clients from the LGBTQI community and people living with HIV, dealing with issues of identity, coming out, isolation, shame and stigma.

I am a gay man who has been out and proud for over 25 years. I have a strong belief that everyone can have a sense of their own personal identity, regardless of their sexuality, where they can embrace their unique life pathway without judgement. I feel strongly connected to a humanistic approach to counselling where the therapeutic relationship is client-centred, where he can sit alongside the client and be present.

It is vital for me to create an environment of trust, openness and mutual respect that promotes and encourages success and a positive outcome in the lives of my clients. I try to utilise my existing life skills and further enhance my abilities and passion with total genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathy for my clients.

Victoria Riddiford - Christchurch

It has been a privilege to have worked as a counsellor for NZAF in Christchurch for the past 14 years. During this time, I have gained a deep understanding of the unique needs of the communities we support; being people living with HIV and men who have sex with men.

I create a warm and nonjudgmental space for individuals and couples to explore how they feel and get to the heart of what is needed. Helping clients get clear on what is right for them, live more authentically and in doing so, develop a deeper sense of connection with self and others.

I bring a calm presence that invites others to share whatever is challenging them in their lives, whether it be: shame, stigma, grief, relationship issues or sexual identity.

I am a registered counsellor and professional member of NZ Association of Intuitive and Pascha Therapists.