Agnès Sigley Expressive Arts Therapist
Expressive Arts Therapies & Counselling
Children – Youth – Mothers & Babies
P.G.Dip. Health Science (Expressive Therapies)
Cert. Sandplay and Symbol Work
BA Communications
CTAA – NZAC (Provisional Member) – WINZ
My passion is to work with people, particularly children, teenagers, mothers and babies as a facilitator who helps you access your inner creative resources in difficult times. Together we will aim to foster clarity, healing and empowerment.
In the free and protected space of the counselling session, and with my unconditional support, you (or your child) will be encouraged to uncover feelings, thoughts or beliefs, which can, initially, be difficult to express verbally. The use of painting or collage, poetry, photography, movement or sandplay facilitates the exploration of your inner world and emotional release. I believe that seeing one’s unconscious world revealed through colours, forms and texture is healing. I have witnessed many times, through the fostering of personal creative processes, clients gain access to their inner strength, joy and beauty.
My method is informed by integrated psychotherapy, which assists a humanistic approach. In private practice since 2006, I have worked on a range of issues, including life transition, biculturalism, self-awareness, confidence, anxiety, challenging behaviour in children, parenting issues, physical and learning difficulties, relationships, grief and trauma. I have a particular interest in the parent/child attachment.
Prior to taking up counselling as a profession, I worked in the fields of communication (Paris – France) and education (Auckland – New Zealand) for many years. I have much experience working with children, teenagers and adults from a range of cultures and ethnicities, both in groups and individually. I also have a life long experience in the use of the expressive arts as tools for awareness, self-development and healing.
Being bilingual, I practise therapy in both English and French.
Testimonials
‘ Agnès is a dependable and reliable person. It is a combination of the different techniques she uses, her presence and listening that helped me finds a place of peace within my self and gave me confidence to move on.’ B.
‘ Agnès has been working with my daughter for just over a year. During this time I have always felt that she is in capable and highly professional hands. I have observed reduced anxiety levels and major changes in my daughter’s self awareness and confidence. She can express her anger by verbalizing very emphatically with raised voice, and is much more capable of verbal communication. She deals with tricky situations with calmness and amazing mature judgment for her age (kind and firm). Before she would not be able to say anything, just feel very hurt. She is also able to talk to me about issues that are bothering her. A year ago she could not tell me what was happening; I could not get the words out of her. The resolution of some problematic issues was fast tracked. A number of areas of concern were revealed which would otherwise not have been detected. My daughter now expresses herself confidently and is calmer in situations that previously were upsetting for her. Agnès’ relaxed and friendly manner quickly established a relationship of trust with my daughter and she always looks forward these sessions.’ H.
Agnès has a great sense of humour and knows how to bring joy and fun to her sessions when appropriate’. M.
Professional information
Agnès adheres to the code of ethics of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (www.nzap.org.nz) and to the code of ethic of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (www.nzac.org.nz). Agnes is following the steps to become a full member of these professional associations.
Agnes is a Member of the Creative Therapies Association Aotearoa (http://www.ctaa.org.nz/). She is also a Member of the Sand Play and Symbol Work supervision Group. For more information see: http://www.sandplay.org/about_sandplay
Sessions and costs
Sessions range from one hour to one and a half hours in the Arts Therapy (NZ) Trust beautiful therapy room.
Cost: Fee from $50/hr to $80 neg.
Contact:
M 027 64 22 064
E agnes.sigley@xtra.co.nz
