About Me
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Alayne Cullen was born in Motueka in the South Island. In her young life she experienced significant adversity that became a fertile foundation of a life of questioning and exploration.
She developed a commitment to delving into the depths of her personal grief and loss and to make meaning of her trauma experiences. Her childhood was her biggest teacher.
"Yes, it is what happened to us in our young lives that is the underpinning but it is the 'working it through' (which isn't always easy) that gives us the choice to live in the present time with more hope, appreciation and courage. Sometimes we need to rage and protest and have those hidden voices heard and witnessed. We cannot change what was sometimes 'done to us' but we can change how we feel about ourselves now and in the future".
Alayne quotes Elisabeth Kubler-Ross who said, "when we go through the tumbler of life we have a choice whether we come out crushed or polished".
"Sometimes when we are in the depths of pain the most difficult thing is to ask someone to be next to us. But I believe this is when we start our polishing, healing, find meaning and can begin to make sense of our pain. We begin to know more of who we really are on the inside, not who others want us to be or who we think we should be. We are able to speak our truth from an inner place of knowing, even if we are voicing 'I don't know'. To be known and seen for who we really are, without judgement, is a basic human need.
Training and Profession
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Organisation
Alayne says the solid theory base derived from this training continues to underpin who she is in the world and in her counselling work.
HD&T Institute Auckland
Trained in Counselling
Registered member of NZAC since 1996
Team leader in a therapeutic community
for adults suffering from mental & emotional health difficulties.
Alayne has a commitment to her own personal work, to supervision and ongoing training and development. She works with a person-centred approach, creating a safe and holding space for individuals to explore and grow through their at times overwhelming emotions.
My Approach
A sound theoretical training underpins Alayne's practise which includes various teaching modalities as well as imagery, poetry and humour.
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She has a commitment to hear what you are saying and finds it an honour for you to share with her what you may have never spoken aloud even to yourself.
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Alayne knows ‘you are the expert on you’ and that at this time you need someone to be fully present alongside as you explore who you are.