Rach Littley: Counsellor

03/08/2025

A great chat today about how we each experience the world uniquely. There are so many factors that influence development; if we look at Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, this helps explain how our environments are interconnected and layered. From immediate settings like home and school (microsystem) to broader influences like culture and politics (macrosystem), each layer impacts how we grow, learn, and interpret the world.

Dr. Gabor Maté builds on this by exploring how these systems play out within family dynamics. Even when siblings grow up in the same household, they don’t experience it the same way. Their perceptions are shaped by birth order, temperament, relationships with caregivers, and their own emotional needs at the time - all of which influence their working theories and the meaning they assign to words, behaviours, and interactions.

When we look at behaviours in our sessions, we take into account what the child is reacting to or responding to within these environments, and how we can support them more effectively. The goal isn’t to place blame, but to better understand the ‘why’ behind the behaviour so we can make meaningful changes that better support family function as well as individual development & hauora.

29/07/2025

𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱...But we also believe in doing this mahi properly - which means planning, consistency, and sometimes... patience. 💛

Thanks for hanging in there while we keep it fair for everyone.

27/07/2025

𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚊 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝟷𝟼𝚢𝚛𝚜?

𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 - and like any tool, it depends how we use it.

Used well, it can foster connection, community, and identity - all powerful protective factors for mental health, especially for our rangatahi.

But it can also become a source of distress. Not because social media 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 poor mental health, but because it’s part of a much wider issue.

We live in a world that encourages constant tech use - to the point where many of us struggle to function without it. And that’s not just a youth problem. Adults are just as caught in these habitual, maladaptive cycles: always on our phones, always plugged in. Instant feedback, and constant stimulation is reshaping how we relate, connect, cope, and regulate.

📲 Swipe through below for more kōrero on the topic & join me in the comments with your whakaaro on the topic 👇🏼

16/07/2025

𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚋𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎?
Because when I post regularly, I start to get a LOT more enquiries…And when my books are already full, that adds stress & false hopes that we don't have the capacity for.

But- some of my current clients asked me to share more, and honestly, it’s also a helpful way to post quick reminders, tips, or psycho-ed resources that we’ve covered in session. So here we are!

👋🏼 If you’re new here:
My name’s Rach, and I’m a counsellor in Whangārei, who specialises in youth and neurodivergent rangatahi.

This year I’m focusing almost entirely on youth counselling, with a few spaces available for parenting support. That side of my work looks like:
✨ unpacking behaviour through a brain development lens
✨ kōrero about the “why” behind the big behaviours, shutdowns, or challenges
✨ dismantling old narratives that don't serve "successful" development
✨ building tools that work for your whānau at home

📌 If you’re interested in working with me:
Check out the featured albums on this page or head to the link in my bio - everything you need is there, including how referrals work, and where to ask further q's if we didn't cover them.

📭 Just a heads-up: I don’t check messages on this page.
Please use the official channels listed to get in touch or join my waitlist.

Thanks for being here ✌🏼

14/07/2025

👀𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔? Sometimes hitting ⏸️ is the bravest way forward.

Relationships (friendships, family, dating, you name it) are hard mahi - especially when things shift out of balance. It’s tempting to chalk it up to “one bad moment,” but if the same patterns keep popping up, it’s worth a contemplate.

✅ Check your boundaries: are they being respected?
✅ Check in: Are you reacting more than you’re being heard?
✅ Have a kōrero - either in session, with the person, or another trusted someone

Whether it’s a pause, a chat, or just some space - 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍… 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝.

Swipe for some of my relationship red flags 🚩

06/07/2025

Kids coming to counselling?
Why not get a hauora check while you wait instead of doomscrolling in the car 😉

Haerenga Hauora also offers:
🦴 Osteopathy
⚡ Shockwave Therapy
💆🏼 Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
🌿 Rongoā Māori (Maunu Only)

03/07/2025

Parents! Check this one out 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AZCEaThVu/

Does your child become overwhelmed, anxious, or shut down at mealtimes? You're not alone—and you're not doing anything wrong.

Introducing our new Webinar Series: Navigating Mealtime Anxiety Through Sensory and Nervous System Regulation

This two-part webinar series is designed especially for parents navigating the daily stress of feeding challenges. Together, we’ll explore how your child’s sensory sensitivities, nervous system responses, and emotional safety play a powerful role in how they experience food and mealtimes.

Excited to be joined by Andrea Greer Nurturing relationships who's expertises are SO valuable!

Grab your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/navigating-mealtime-anxiety-through-sensory-and-nervous-system-regulation

27/06/2025

𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚙 𝚘𝚗 𝚃𝚎𝚛𝚖 𝟸! 🎉

A reminder that recurring appointments are paused for the school hols. If you’re booked in, I’ll see you on 𝟿 𝙹𝚞𝚕𝚢.

The rest of you:
✨ Enjoy the sleep ins
✨ hang with your mates
✨ smash some hauora goals (or high scores)

And remember to crack a window & touch some grass every now & again 😉

Looking forward to hearing your highlights when we’re back!

25/06/2025

Sometimes we get so good at being who we think others want us to be that we forget what we actually feel.

No pressure to answer. No answers needed. Just something to think about & sit with for a while.

23/06/2025

Couldn't have said it better myself 😘😜

20/11/2024

✨ After School Sessions Available ✨
You read that right, for the first time in a looooonnnnggg time I have an after school appointment available AND no waitlist!! Crazy right? So if you're a young person in Whangārei or if you have a tamariki needing some extra support with counselling, hmu using the waitlist link in bio and someone from my admin team will reach out to get you on my books.

The available appointment is Wednesdays @ 4:30PM, either weekly or fortnightly.
Afterpay Available.

15/11/2024

Hope this helps answer a few questions that were floating around clinic this week:

Arohanui to the beautiful wāhine, Riana, sharing her knowledge and taking time to explain what's happening in Aotearoa in a not so complex way 💞