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Monday 8:30am - 2:30am Tuesday 8:30am - 12pm Wednesday 8:30pm - 12:30am Thursday 8:30am - 2:30pm Friday 8:30am - 1pm

Amy Benjamin Counselling

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Amy Benjamin Counselling

Walk and talk nature counselling
Experience the healing power of nature and counselling

28/09/2025

Exploring Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari 🏞️ Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, what a special place! Nestled in the heart of Waikato, this ancient forest is a living reminder of what Aotearoa used to be like before predators arrived. Walking through the predator-proof fence felt like stepping into another world. Towering native trees, birdsong all around, and even a cheeky kākā or two flying overhead. I was lucky enough to spot tūī, bellbirds, and even a hihi! We learned about all of the conservation efforts. It’s not just a walk in the forest; it’s a glimpse into the future of ecological restoration. 🌿🐦✨

27/09/2025

Captured a quiet moment of grounding - sitting beneath the towering redwoods of Rotorua, breathing in the earthy air, listening to birdsong, and soaking in the stillness that only a forest this ancient can offer.
It was a welcome reset for my nervous system after walking high above the forest floor on the Redwoods Treewalk.
✨ Grounded in nature. Elevated in spirit.
📍Redwoods Forest, Rotorua, NZ

27/09/2025

Picture 1 – Pink Blossoms in Spring
In spring, pink blossom trees brighten Rotorua with fleeting beauty. Their soft blooms remind us to slow down, breathe, and embrace change. They symbolise renewal, peace, and the delicate balance of life’s seasons.

Picture 2 – The Koru Fern
The unfurling koru, small, yet full of potential -symbolises new beginnings, strength in stillness, and the quiet power of growth. It reflects the journey of puāwai (to bloom), both in nature and within ourselves.

Picture 3 – Kōwhai Flower
Symbolizing hope and vitality, the bright yellow kōwhai enriches Aotearoa’s ecosystems. Its vibrant blooms feed tui birds and numerous native creatures, supporting biodiversity and the interconnectedness of life.

Picture 4 – Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Wai-O-Tapu is a landscape of extremes - steaming vents, bubbling mud, bold colours, and shifting earth. One of the world’s most active volcanic zones, it’s a place to move slowly, breathe deeply, and witness nature’s raw creative process in real time.

Picture 6 – Fallow Deer Encounter
We paused to admire its antlers and the calm, curious presence it carried. The deer stepped closer, sensing us not as a threat but as part of the landscape. In that quiet moment, a gentle connection was made - a reminder of the peaceful coexistence possible between humans and animals.

Where will you explore today? I invite you to gently open your senses to the stories and symbols nature holds. Where will your journey take you today? What might you see, feel, or discover along the way?

16/08/2025

With care, aroha, and manaakitanga, we prepared nourishing food and nurtured a warm, restorative, and welcoming space for Tools for Transforming Trauma, an ACC SCS day retreat with .life.nz
Through Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Creative Arts Therapy, mindfulness-based psychoeducation, and Ecotherapy, participants were invited to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world, harvesting practical, sustainable tools to carry forward on their healing journeys.
It felt like a day of planting seeds, both metaphorically and physically, tending to them with care, and reflecting on the conditions each of us needs in order to puāwai, bloom, and flourish. We gathered the wisdom already within and shared it together as a group.A time of nourishment, courage, and connection.
I am moved by the strength, vulnerability, and presence that each person brought into this space.
May what was gathered today continue to grow, to flourish, and to ripple outward into homes, relationships, communities, and daily life in quiet, lasting ways.

13/08/2025

Feeling grateful, connected, and inspired to offer outdoor counselling sessions .
During my third outdoor meeting today, while walking around the lake, I paused, looked up, and really took it all in. The day began with a conversation with someone researching the therapeutic benefits of outdoor experiences—such a joy to connect with others passionate about nature-based work here in Aotearoa.

Later, my counselling client said: “I’m so glad there are people offering experiences like this.”
He’d spent time walking in silence, exploring and connecting with the natural world, while also having someone supportive to talk to.

I’m incredibly grateful for the work I do, and for the opportunity to practise in the beautiful Milford environment. Whether it’s walking by the beach or through the lakeside bush, this place offers rich opportunities for connection with the more-than-human world. Towering trees, singing tūī, gliding swans, the scent of fresh air and earth underfoot — all become part of the therapeutic process. These sensory encounters invite grounding, presence, and a deeper sense of belonging.

I currently have space to welcome 2 new weekly ir fortnightly clients.

🌿 Availability:
→ Wednesday – 2 appointments
→ Friday – 2 appointments

If this speaks to you or someone you know, feel free to reach out on 021 240 4178 or counselloramy@outlook.com.

04/08/2025

The most amazing garden at Mana nourished us with vibrant, soul-feeding vegetarian food🥕

06/07/2025

Ileodictyon cibarium (basket fungus)

02/07/2025

Sharing the recipe for the 4 Ingredient Almond Cake (Flourless + Fluffy!)
Dairy and gluten-free 💛

You’ll need:

* 2 cups almond flour 🌰
* 4 large eggs, separated 🥚
* 1/2 cup sugar (or honey/maple) 🍯
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract ✨
* Slithered Almonds to decorate

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to (175°C). Grease or line a cake pan.
2. Separate eggs: Place yolks in one bowl and whites in another (no yolk in the whites!).
3. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (use a clean bowl + mixer for best results).
4. In another bowl, whisk yolks with sugar and vanilla until pale. Add almond flour and mix.
5. Gently fold egg whites into the almond mixture, a little at a time — don’t deflate the air!
6. Pour into pan and bake for 25–30 mins until golden + set.

Let it cool, dust with icing sugar, and enjoy ✨

02/07/2025

🌿 Nature Mandala at Huia Bay 🌊
As part of our final gathering for Revive Adventure Therapy, we created a nature mandala on the sands of Huia Bay — a collective offering made from shells, driftwood, leaves, and stones gathered with intention and care.

A mandala is a symbol of wholeness and unity. In nature-based therapy, it also represents the cyclical nature of healing — how we can find balance, even in times of change. Each person added to the mandala, contributing their own piece of beauty, their story, and their presence. Together, it became a reflection of our group: diverse, strong, and interconnected.

After completing the mandala, we gathered in circle to share personal journal reflections, written by each group member. It was a moment of vulnerability, courage, and deep connection — witnessing one another with compassion.

We closed the programme by acknowledging each participant with a certificate of completion, honouring the growth, bravery, and shared journey over these past 8 weeks.

🤍 The mandala remains only for a moment, but its meaning stays with us — just like the memories, insights, and connections we’ve carried from this time together.

27/06/2025

Week 6
This week we explored Lake Wainamu—sandboarding dunes, sitting quietly by the lake, and following the stream back. It was a day of movement, stillness, and connection.

We also explored how trauma can affect the nervous system—why we sometimes feel numb, shut down, or disconnected—and how nature can gently help us return to a sense of safety.

Each week, we’re seeing more courage, care, and healing within this group. Nature, reflection, and community—this is what Revive is all about.

27/06/2025

It was inspiring to watch everyone offer and receive support during Week 7 of our Revive Adventure Therapy group at the ELTA High Ropes.
Our theme this week was Support | Tautoko. We reflected together on how Tautoko means to uphold, encourage, and walk alongside someone with presence, respect, and care. It’s about standing beside others in their moments of courage, uncertainty, or vulnerability—and, just as importantly, allowing others to stand beside us.
Today’s Adventure Therapy high ropes experience wasn’t just about climbing. It was about how we show up for ourselves and one another when things feel challenging, exciting, or uncertain. Whether on the ropes, holding the belay, offering words of encouragement, or simply being present on the ground, each person played a vital role.

14/06/2025

Green Spaces: Why They Heal Your Brain, Body & Spirit 🌿🧠✨

🌿Spending time in green spaces reduces cortisol by calming the brain’s stress response system—the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—helping you feel more peaceful.
🌿Being surrounded by trees and plants stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, especially the vagus nerve, promoting deep relaxation and recovery.
🌿Breathing in phytoncides—natural compounds released by plants—increases natural killer (NK) cells that strengthen your body’s defenses.
🌿Natural environments enhance prefrontal cortex activity, helping your brain recover from fatigue and sharpen concentration.
🌿Time spent in green spaces quiets the brain’s default mode network (DMN), lowering repetitive negative thoughts and calming the mind.
🌿Exposure to nature raises brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that encourages neural growth and resilience.
🌿Natural light in green spaces helps regulate your circadian rhythm via the suprachiasmatic nucleus, supporting better sleep and emotional balance.
🌿Green spaces reduce amygdala hyperactivity, easing feelings of fear, worry, and stress.
🌿Being in leafy environments boosts serotonin pathways, naturally lifting your mood and easing depressive symptoms.
🌿Walking among trees and plants increases heart rate variability (HRV), indicating a healthy balance between stress and relaxation responses.
🌿Ecotherapy reminds us that we are nature—our minds, bodies, and spirits are deeply interconnected with the living world around us. By immersing ourselves in green spaces, we not only heal our nervous system but also reconnect with the essence of who we truly are.

Step outside. Breathe deeply. Feel the healing power of nature flow through you. 🌿💚✨

Address

2B Dodson Avenue, Milford
Auckland

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 2:30am
Tuesday	8:30am - 12pm
Wednesday	8:30pm - 12:30am
Thursday	8:30am - 2:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 1pm

Telephone

0212403178

Website

https://www.amybenjamincounselling.co.nz/

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