Puāwaitanga offers free counselling nationwide for anyone 18+
This service is available to those who meet one of the following criteria:
- Receives financial support from Work & Income (e.g. benefit, disability allowance)
- Holds a Community Services Card or;
- Receives a pension or;
- Lives in emergency housing
Eligible tāngata whai ora can refer themselves or Puāwaitanga can receive referrals on behalf from health providers. These referrals can be made through their website www.puawaitanga.nz or by calling them on 0800 782 999.
Puāwaitanga has a multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians who tāngata whai ora can choose from. These sessions can be completed through phone or video call and can be booked Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm.
What can tāngata whai ora expect?
Focused support: Work with a counsellor to focus on a key issue and move closer to your goals. This brief service ensures consistency by pairing you with the same counsellor for short-term support.
Booster Session: Have a follow-up session three months after your initial counselling to review your progress.
Open Door: Return for additional sessions within 12 months if needed—a safety net for challenging times.
Session Lengths:
- First session: 45 minutes
- Follow-ups: 30 minutes
If you have any questions about the support Puāwaitanga offers, get in touch at: support@puawaitanga.nz
