Ko Mt Baker te māunga.

Ko Fraser te awa.

Nō Aotearoa, Kānata, me Hanekari au.

Ko Colin Ming te matua.

Ko Lily Tarbaj te whaea.

Ko Chrissy Gillmore tōku ingoa.

Tohutohu/Counselling

Ko Chrissy ahau / I’m Chrissy (she/her). I provide professional counselling services to adults. I am a registered member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and EMDRNZ.

At Braveheart Therapy, I embrace a bicultural pluralism approach, recognizing that different strategies resonate with different individuals. This philosophy is rooted in biculturalism, which seeks to decolonise the therapeutic space by honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

I specialize in addressing grief and loss, anxiety, depression, PTSD, complex PTSD, and trauma related to childhood experiences. I adopt a client-centred approach to therapy, prioritizing your needs and experiences.

Honesty and transparency are central to my therapeutic practice. Together, we will collaboratively identify the best modalities for your healing journey. Techniques I may employ include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), feminist-informed therapy, somatic therapies (such as body-mind psychotherapy and polyvagal theory), person-centered therapy, and the Te Whare Tapa Whā model. This list is not exhaustive, and I am open to exploring other options that suit your needs.

In partnership with you, I utilize routine outcome monitoring, such as feedback-informed treatment, to ensure we are aligned on your therapeutic goals and that I am responsive to your feedback throughout our sessions.

I am an ACC sensitive claims provider (Provider Number: PAP781) and also contract with Victims Support as a counsellor.

Runaruna/Hobbies

As reflected in the images throughout this website, I have whakapapa to Kānata (Canada) and have ancestral roots tracing back to Hanekari (Hungary). I have made Aotearoa my home for over 20 years.

I am passionate about my whānau. I enjoy a variety of hobbies, including gardening (both outdoor and indoor), traveling, spending quality time with friends and whānau, and participating in weekly Te Ataarangi sessions at a local marae. Additionally, I am passionate about textile arts, such as embroidery (specifically Mātyo - Hanekari embroidery), drawing, photography, and walking my two dogs, Rico and Reba. I also am passionate about my three cats (The Strawberry Princess (face of my logo), Raggie, and Raul).

Mātauranga/Education

I am currently pursuing a part-time PhD in Psychology, with an anticipated completion date in September 2027. My educational background includes:

- He Papa Tikanga (Level 3) / Te Ataarangi (Weekly during school terms)

- Master of Counselling

- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Counselling & Guidance)

- Master of Management (Marketing)

- Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Social Anthropology)

- Bachelor of Arts (Double major in Business Psychology & Social Anthropology)

And various other qualifications.

Let’s make these next steps count. Kia kaha!

Make these next steps count. Kia kaha!