Couselling & Therapy

If you’ve found yourself here, chances are something in your life feels out of balance. It might be a recent challenge, or something you’ve been carrying for a long time.

My role is to provide a safe and supportive space where you can start to make sense of what’s going on, develop new tools, and begin moving toward a greater sense of ease and confidence in your life.

Together, we can work to shift unhelpful patterns, build emotional resilience, and reconnect with what brings you joy and strength.

I welcome you to reach out through my contact form, by email, or by phone – to have a brief chat and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit.

Queenstown Counselling Services

I have a particular focus on working with adults, couples, and young people who are dealing with trauma, grief, and relationship issues.

I also support those facing stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, family violence, and abuse issues.

“I know through my own personal and professional experience that therapy works – it is worth the investment.”

– Julie O’Connell

Trauma Counselling

Julie has a special interest in working with people affected by trauma, which can include experiences of violence, grief, loss, abuse, depression, anxiety, and the impact of intergenerational harm.

Drawing on a holistic, humanistic framework, she supports her clients to process their experiences safely, reduce distress, and gradually reclaim a sense of calm, connection, and control.

Relationship Counselling

Relationships can be a source of both deep connection and emotional strain, resulting in feelings of hurt, anger, grief, and self-esteem concerns.

Julie works with individuals and couples to improve communication, navigate conflict, and develop understanding, with a goal to rebuilding trust.

Her goal is to help clients strengthen their relationships through greater self-understanding and shared insight.

Grief and Loss

Grief affects everyone differently. Julie provides gentle, compassionate support for those adjusting to loss; it could be the loss of a loved one, recent or historical, or through significant life changes.

Grief can cause sadness, anger, confusion, and often impacts a person’s overall wellbeing.

Her sessions offer space to express emotions, explore pathways to resolution, and take steps toward healing in a way that feels natural and respectful to each person’s experience.

A teardrop wall feature displayed in Julie O‘Connell’s therapy room where she offers Queenstown Counselling Services

Support for Anxiety, Depression, and Emotional Wellbeing

Julie works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and emotional overwhelm. Using evidence-based strategies tailored to each person’s needs, she helps people develop practical coping tools, explore the roots of their distress, and to assist with moving towards greater balance and wellbeing.

Sexual Harm

Julie is ACC registered to provide counselling for adults who have experienced sexual harm – also known as sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, or sexual violence – involving any kind of unwanted sexual actions, whether recent or in the past.

Sexual harm is complex and can affect every aspect of a person’s wellbeing. In a safe and supportive environment, Julie helps clients to gently process their experiences, understand emotional triggers, and the body’s responses.

Her approach centres on being heard, believed, and cared for, while learning practical tools for emotional healing and resilience.

Family Violence

Experiencing family or domestic violence can induce feelings of fear, shame, and confusion, often leaving lasting emotional and physical effects. In a safe and confidential setting, Julie provides understanding and guidance for those who have experienced harm within their relationships or homes.

Through counselling, clients are supported to process trauma, strengthen self-worth, and learn tools to navigate recovery. Julie recognises that many people minimise the impact of such experiences, and she works with care and respect to help each person acknowledge their pain and begin to heal.

Life Transitions

Life transitions can often bring both loss and opportunity. Even positive change can feel unsettling or uncertain. Julie supports clients navigating significant shifts such as changes in relationships, career, health, life direction, or purpose.

Identity-related transitions – like menopause, becoming an empty nester, mid-life changes, or shifts in how you see yourself – can also be especially disorienting. These changes can resemble grief or leave you feeling unsteady as familiar roles and routines evolve.

These experiences can sometimes mirror grief, or leave you feeling unsettled or overwhelmed. Counselling offers a supportive space to explore these feelings, find meaning in the changes, and move toward a renewed sense of balance, clarity, and confidence.

Ready to connect?

This first step is simply a chance to talk, ask questions, and see what feels right for you. I welcome you to reach out through my contact form, by email, or by phone – to have a brief chat and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit.

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A teardrop wall feature displayed in Julie O‘Connell’s therapy room where she offers Queenstown Counselling Services
Counselling & Therapy Services
Queenstown and Alexandra

Phone: 027 603 9931
Email: [email protected]
Postal address: PO Box 18, Queenstown 9348, New Zealand

Supervision for Professionals

Complaints