Little Shadow Counselling
At Little Shadow we offer counselling and support to parents experiencing perinatal distress, including baby loss and infertility. Perinatal means anything to do with pregnancy, birth and the first years of a baby's life. We provide you with a safe, non judgemental space to seek healing, resilience and empowerment.
Our counsellors are here to help you navigate those tricky times in life. From depression to grief, loss, anxiety and trauma and managing life’s changes. Our team also have specialist training and professional development to help support those in the perinatal period. Our counsellors genuinely relate – many have experienced perinatal or other life periods of distress, and all of them are parents.
You can also check out our group support program - He Waka Eke Noa
Our Team
At Little Shadow, we understand that seeking help is a brave and essential step towards personal growth and emotional well-being. That's why we are proud to introduce our team of compassionate counsellors who are dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey towards healing and self-discovery.
Our counseling service for parents is made more affordable by kind donors, fundraisers, and grants.
To book an appointment with either of our exceptional counsellors, click on the buttons below their profile
We look forward to embarking on this transformative journey with you!
Danni Ridley (she/her)
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BACHELOR OF COUNSELLING and addictions practice, NZAC PROVISIONAL MEMBER
Danni is a 2nd generation Pākehā/tauiwi practitioner who grew up in the Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington region. Having recently become a mother (to her daughter in November 2022), Danni is interested in the contradictions and hurdles faced in modern parenting. These include identity concerns, relationship changes, external and internal pressures, and lack of support.
Danni believes we all possess unique inner strengths and works in a pluralistic manner - drawing ideas from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy - to help the people she works with to find these, and use them to their full potential.
She creates a safe and non judgemental place to explore different issues. Her interests lie in identity issues, relationships, grief, intergenerational concerns and anxiety. She previously worked in the Drug Treatment Unit at Arohata Women’s Prison - giving her experience in trauma, addiction and abuse. She works at your pace and is dedicated to empowering you through the peaks and troughs of parenthood.
Rate: $55 per session
Available: Thursdays - Waterloo Plunket Clinic, Lower Hutt or online. Fridays - Johnsonville Plunket Clinic, Johnsonville or online
Tracey Shackleton (she/her)
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2nd year Student, Bachelor of Counselling and Addictions practice. Student Associate, NZAC
Tracey grew up in Wainuiomata and now lives in Te Motu Kairangi (the Miramar Peninsula). She was introduced to the challenges and joys of modern parenting when she became a mother to two children later in life.
Tracey is interested in supporting clients to explore their experiences, problems, and concerns so they can reach a fresh understanding in line with their own values and feel empowered to parent, and live their lives, on their own terms.
Tracey uses Client Centred Practice and ideas from Solution Focused Therapy to create an empathic and safe space.
Rate: $30 per session
Available: Fridays - Johnsonville Plunket Clinic, Johnsonville or online
Minon Wijeyeratne (she/her)
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2nd year Student, Bachelor of Counselling and Addictions practice. Student Associate, NZAC
Minon migrated to New Zealand 15 years ago. Leaving her career in Geneva Switzerland, she embraced motherhood later in life, giving birth to two boys via IVF. The challenges she faced both as a mother and a woman, made her choose a career in counselling later in life, to share and contribute her lived experiences with other women.
Minon has worked at Greenstone Doors counselling young mothers and prefers to work using a pluralistic approach when working with her clients, tailoring more to the client’s needs and challenges. Minon is of Sri Lankan descent.
Rate: $30 per session
Available: Thursdays - Johnsonville Plunket Clinic, Johnsonville or online
Can’t find something that suits your needs? Why not check our range of other support here. We have a range of independent perinatal mental health professionals, including psychologists, art therapists, and counsellors who are able to support you on your journey to wellbeing.
Why counselling?
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Counselling is a useful tool for healing and gaining clarity over your life. Counselling can help you to find choices and meaning in your experiences. Talking out loud gives clarity and fresh perspective to your thoughts.
What’s counselling like?
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We listen and reflect, creating a safe space to help you discover fresh perspective and inner strength. We help you imagine how these ideas might look if you integrated them into your life.
Everyone is different. You might need just a handful of sessions to provide you with clarity – or you may want ongoing support to tackle deeper issues. Whatever your needs, counselling can help support your journey.
The details
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We offer counselling at Johnsonville Plunket rooms on Friday’s.
Prices are $55 for Qualified Counsellors and $30 for Student Counsellors for a 50 minute session.
We are committed to removing as many barriers to attending as possible for parents and these fees are subsidised thanks to fundraising, grants and donations. All of our venues are child friendly, and you can bring babies two years and under if you need to.
Prices seem out of reach? MSD offer support with counselling when you meet their income threshold criteria. Check your eligibility here, or download an application form to take straight to your GP, see here. Any of our Provisional or Full NZAC members can support you if you’re accessing this subsidy, making the fee just a very small one.
Cancellation Fee: Please note that appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours notice will be invoiced in full.