Individual Counselling
NZ$145 / 50 minutes
One-to-one support for anxiety, depression and low mood, stress, burnout, grief, confidence, identity, relationship issues and major life changes.
Explore individual counselling →New Zealand Association of Counsellors, Provisional Member
10+ years’ experience supporting people through counselling and therapeutic work
Gottman Level 1 & 2 trained
Master of Counselling, University of Auckland (final year)
In-person in Howick & online across New Zealand
No referral needed
Four Pillars Counselling
Practical, compassionate counselling for life's difficult seasons.
Whatever you are going through, whether it is anxiety, depression or low mood, relationship difficulties, grief, burnout, life transitions, questions about identity, or simply feeling stuck, counselling can offer a steady place to make sense of it.
Jonathan Kirk, PMNZAC, is a Provisional Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors with 10+ years’ experience supporting people through counselling and therapeutic work. He has completed Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and is completing the final year of the Master of Counselling at the University of Auckland. He works collaboratively with you, drawing from evidence-based and humanistic approaches that fit your circumstances.
10+ yearsexperience supporting people through counselling and therapeutic work
A little about Jonathan
A counsellor with a broad view of real life.
Jonathan brings 10+ years’ experience supporting people through counselling and therapeutic work, including across social work and human-services settings. Alongside work in health and fitness, business leadership, law and wildland firefighting, that varied experience shapes a practical, human approach to people facing pressure, change, uncertainty and relationship challenges.
Safe and non-judgmentalPractical and groundedLGBTQIA+ affirmingCulturally aware
More about Jonathan →What I offer
Counselling services
Flexible support in person in Howick, online or by phone. No referral needed.
Couples Counselling
NZ$195 / 70 minutes
Gottman-informed sessions to improve communication, understand conflict patterns and rebuild trust and connection, supported by Jonathan’s completed Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
Explore couples counselling →Youth Counselling
NZ$145 / 50 minutes
Warm, strengths-based support for preteens and teenagers when Jonathan’s experience and approach are an appropriate fit.
Explore youth counselling →The approach
A pluralistic, person-centred approach.
There is no single therapy that works for everyone. Jonathan draws from evidence-based and humanistic approaches, choosing what is most relevant to your goals, background and circumstances.
That means counselling is tailored rather than formulaic. You are involved in deciding what we focus on and how we work.
Explore each approach
Person-Centred Therapy
You are the expert on your own life. This is a warm, non-judgmental foundation where you can feel genuinely heard and move at a pace that works for you.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Practical tools for understanding how thoughts, feelings and behaviour interact, and for responding differently to patterns that keep you stuck.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Build psychological flexibility, make space for difficult experiences and take action that reflects your values rather than waiting to feel perfect first.
Narrative Therapy
Separate your identity from the problem, examine inherited stories and create room for perspectives that better reflect your strengths and preferred life.
Existential Therapy
Explore meaning, identity, purpose, freedom and responsibility, especially during uncertainty, grief and significant life transitions.
Gottman Method
Research-informed couples work focused on friendship, communication, conflict management, trust, repair and shared meaning. Jonathan has completed Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
Te Whare Tapa Whā
A Māori model of wellbeing that considers taha tinana, taha hinengaro, taha wairua and taha whānau as connected foundations of health.
Strength-Based & Integrative Work
Counselling should not force one model onto every person. We draw on what fits your goals, context, strengths and circumstances.
Who I work with
Counselling for people at different stages of life
Inclusive, affirming support for adults, couples and young people across a wide range of experiences.
Adults
Anxiety, depression, low mood, burnout, relationship issues, grief, identity and life transitions
Couples
Communication, recurring conflict, trust, intimacy and reconnection
Young People
Anxiety, school stress, bullying, confidence and identity
Men’s Mental Health
Straightforward support without judgment or stigma
Neurodivergent People
Flexible counselling that works with your experience
Expats & Cultural Identity
Belonging, adjustment and living between cultures
Faith & Spiritual Transitions
Questions of belief, meaning, values and identity
Depression, Low Mood & Burnout
Support through depleted motivation, pressure and difficult seasons
Getting started
Three simple steps
01
Choose your service
Explore individual, couples or online counselling and choose the option that best fits what you need.
02
Book a time
Use live availability to select an in-person or online appointment that works for you.
03
Begin counselling
Meet in Howick, online or by phone. The work is tailored from the first full session.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Straightforward answers about getting started, sessions, fees and fit.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can contact Four Pillars Counselling directly. A GP referral or doctor’s note is not required. You can book a full session online, or contact Jonathan if you have a question before booking.
What happens during the first session?
The first session is a chance to talk through what has brought you to counselling, ask questions and begin clarifying what you would like to get from the work. You will also receive an intake form before the appointment. There is no pressure to share more than feels manageable.
What can individual counselling help with?
Individual counselling can support anxiety, depression and low mood, stress, burnout, grief and loss, self-esteem, identity and belonging, relationship difficulties, personal boundaries, cultural adjustment, faith transitions, men’s mental health and major life changes. If you are unsure whether Jonathan is the right fit, contact him with any questions before booking.
Are sessions in person or online?
Both. In-person sessions are held at Crawford Wellness Centre, 2 Picton Street, Howick. Secure online sessions are available across New Zealand, and phone sessions can also be arranged.
How long are sessions and what do they cost?
Individual counselling is NZ$145 / 50 minutes. Gottman-informed couples counselling is NZ$195 / 70 minutes. Sessions are available in person in Howick or online across New Zealand.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no set number. Some people benefit from a small number of sessions, while others prefer longer-term support. We will review what is helping and decide together what makes sense.
Resources & insights
Useful ideas for real life
Practical writing about relationships, identity, mental health and the counselling process.
Men's health27 August 2026
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High-Functioning Anxiety: When You Look Fine but Never Feel Off Duty
You may be meeting deadlines, helping everyone else and appearing completely capable while privately feeling tense, exhausted and unable to switch off.
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Anxious Attachment or Relationship Anxiety? Why Reassurance Never Feels Like Enough
When reassurance only settles the worry briefly, it can help to understand whether the anxiety is coming from old fears, current relationship problems, or both.
Read articleReady when you are
Ready to take the next step?
View live availability and book a counselling session, or contact Jonathan if you have a question before booking.