Ph: 021-238-7809
Zara Fraser
Find your path to wellness and transformation
Welcome to Guided Talks Counselling with Zara
Are you struggling with challenges that seem overwhelming? Do you want to unlock your potential and lead a more fulfilling life? At Guided Talks Counselling, located privately in Merivale, Christchurch, Zara is dedicated to helping teens and adults navigate life's complexities using evidence-based approaches.
Counselling Services
Zara Fraser chose the name ‘Guided Talks’ for her counselling practice because her many and varied life experiences have equipped her to travel alongside others as they encounter and work through significant turning-points and transitions in their life journeys. A strongly intuitive person, Zara uses skills drawn from a variety of sources including workplace training, business development, and parenting whilst living with a husband with a terminal health condition. Her decision to embrace counselling as a career grew out of her resolve to make the most effective use of the insights and resilience that her experience has given her, and she genuinely enjoys listening as others share their experiences in her presence.
Zara is known and appreciated for her practical approach and her creativity. Her counselling practice is shaped by her study of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Motivational Interviewing, and she holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling from the University of Canterbury. Her counselling experience includes working with adult clients in an Employment Assistance Programme context, and her youthful and relatable enthusiasm allows her to connect well with teens.
About Zara
I am a full member of the Te Roopu Kaiwhiriwhiri o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. I hold a Master of Counselling from the University of Canterbury.
Qualifications and Memberships
My Approach
I believe that life is dynamic, and as human beings we are evolving entities, constantly changing and growing or frustrated because something is preventing us from changing and growing into the people we have the potential to be.
I love working with people who have begun to realise that they need to do something different, but who feel stuck for all sorts of reasons; I see myself as a ‘wingwoman’ travelling alongside people at all ages and stages of life, supporting them as they navigate challenges as diverse as teenage anxiety, employment, family and relationship issues and life transitions of various kinds.
Growth & change...
My own life experience, personality and training have taught me the value of keeping life simple and manageable, of doing the foundations well, of being aware of the big picture whilst ensuring focus remains on what is in front of us so that we don’t become overwhelmed and freeze.
Keeping it simple...
Because I believe that an important part of my work as a counsellor is to enable people to see things more clearly, I will be curious about the things in your life to which you give your attention…and I will invite you to consider changing your focus if what you are looking at now is not life-giving or meaningful for you.
Focus...
I appreciate that my work gives me the opportunity to be a creative and caring resource-person in the lives of others. As your counsellor I will look actively for every opportunity to help you to identify and grow your strengths as together we travel through whatever challenges have caused our paths to cross.
Guided talking...
I enjoy listening to what people are saying and being aware of what they’re not saying, all the time looking for patterns and themes and noticing things that others do not always see. As your counsellor, I may play ‘devil’s advocate’ to enable you to question your own thinking; I will encourage you to regularly evaluate how you are currently thinking and where you would like to be in terms of your own values and life goals.
Notice and wonder...
I went to Zara during a challenging period in my life. Although I have a close family and supportive friends, I needed someone "objective" to discuss my situation. In my sessions, I felt like Zara was walking beside me, helping me to explore ways to deal with this part of my life. Despite her professional role, I always felt in control of my choices and active in directing our sessions. I have come out more empowered, and my time with Zara was a huge part of getting to this point. Thank you, Zara.
- SARAH
Located in the heart of Merivale, Christchurch, I want to welcome you to my private home practice for your
counselling session.
I am currently available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
After you have contacted me via phone or website, we will book a session time and I will notify you of the address.
About my space
Life's challenges don't have to define you. At Guided Talks Counselling, Zara is here to help you uncover your inner strength, embrace change, and achieve your goals. Let's work together to create a brighter, more fulfilling future. Call Zara on 021-238-7809 or fill out the form below to get started. I will then be in touch to arrange a time to meet.