Counselling & Social Work in Christchurch
At Your Pace, With People Who Get It
2/9 Wordsworth Street, Sydenham
Therapy in Christchurch
The Therapy Project is a Christchurch counselling and social work practice based in Sydenham, offering in-person support at our Wordsworth Street rooms and secure telehealth across Canterbury and Aotearoa.
Whether you're navigating trauma, a cancer diagnosis, burnout, relationship difficulty, an autism assessment, or simply a season of life that feels heavier than it should, we help you find the right clinician for what you're carrying — and get started without a long wait.
Why people come to us
Living in Christchurch can bring a mix of pressures — the ongoing rebuild and change, health system strain, cost of living, family stress, and the quieter weight of things people carry from earlier in life. Our clients come to us for support with:
Anxiety, low mood, burnout, and stress that isn't shifting on its own
Trauma, PTSD, and ACC Sensitive Claims work (including EMDR)
Living with cancer at any age and stage — for the person diagnosed and for their whānau
Autism, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental support for adults, adolescents, and families
Relationship, couples, and family difficulty
Grief, loss, and major life transitions
Adolescent and young adult mental health
You don't need a clear label or a referral to reach out. If something feels off, that's enough of a reason to talk to someone.
What makes us a bit different
Three registered clinicians with genuine depth in different areas. Rather than trying to be all things to everyone, our Christchurch team has clear specialist strengths — so when you enquire, we match you to the right person for what you're actually facing, not just whoever has an open slot.
A specialist oncology social worker on the team. Very few Christchurch private practices offer dedicated psychosocial support for people living with cancer and their families. Tara does — from diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and end-of-life stages.
Neurodiversity-affirming, from the first conversation. We work from the position that autistic and neurodivergent people don't need to be fixed — they need support that fits the way their brains actually work. Post-diagnostic support, adolescent and adult ASD, ADHD-related overwhelm, sensory needs, and identity questions are all welcomed here.
Funded and private pathways under one roof. ACC, most major EAP providers, Southern Cross health insurance, and private pay — we help you figure out what you can access and take the admin off your plate.
Tara Kalamchi — Registered Social Worker (SWRB)
Tara offers specialist psychosocial support for people living with cancer at any age and stage, alongside autism and neurodevelopmental support across the lifespan. She works with individuals, couples, and whānau navigating diagnosis, treatment, adjustment, and grief.
Meet the Christchurch team
Kristen Tandy — Registered Counsellor (NZAC)
Kristen works with individuals, couples, and families. She brings a warm, collaborative style to relationship difficulty, anxiety, life transitions, and the everyday pressures of family and work.
Jackie Kell — Registered Counsellor (NZAC), EMDR and IFS-informed
Jackie's work spans trauma therapy, adolescent and family counselling, and neurodiversity-affirming support. She's trained in EMDR and works with people processing trauma, anxiety, and the impact of earlier experiences.
How we work
Every person's situation is different, so we don't run a one-size-fits-all model. Sessions are 50 minutes, held either in person at our Sydenham rooms or online by secure video, and paced to what you need — whether that's short-term focused work or a longer therapeutic relationship.
Our clinicians draw from evidence-based approaches including EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, CBT, ACT, trauma-informed practice, and neurodiversity-affirming frameworks, tailored to you rather than to a manual.
Funding, ACC, and EAP
The Therapy Project holds ACC supplier status through ACCess Associates, so if you have an active ACC Sensitive Claim (or are exploring one), we can support you with fully funded sessions — and our clinicians are experienced in that pathway.
We're also contracted with a range of Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providers, including Telus Health, OCP, Habit Health, Clearhead, WPO, Aoake te Ra, and Southern Cross. If your workplace offers EAP, there's a good chance you already have funded sessions available — you can just note the provider on your enquiry form and we'll handle the rest.
We're also Southern Cross affiliated providers for eligible health insurance clients, and offer private pay sessions for anyone without a funded pathway.
Not sure what you're covered for? Ask us. We'll figure it out with you.
What happens after you enquire
We know this is the part most websites skip, and it's often the part that stops people reaching out. Here's exactly how it works:
You send us an enquiry through the form at this link, or by phone or email.
We reply within one to two business days to get a better idea of what you’re experiencing.
We match you with the right clinician based on your needs, funding pathway, and availability — and confirm a first session time that works for you.
Your first session happens in person at our Sydenham rooms or online. From there, you and your clinician agree together what feels most useful — how often, for how long, and what to focus on.
If it turns out we're not the right fit for what you need, we'll say so and help you find someone who is.
Location and getting here
Suite 2, 9 Wordsworth Street, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023
Our rooms are in central Sydenham, a short walk from Colombo Street and easily reached from most parts of Christchurch. On-street parking is available on Wordsworth Street and surrounding streets, but we also have two dedicated parking spots for clients to use. The practice is accessible by bus routes serving Sydenham, and is a short drive from the CBD, Addington, and Beckenham.
Fees & Referrals
Sessions are offered on a private-pay basis
We also offer sessions through OCP, Southern Cross, and Telus
ACC, EAP, WINZ, or other funded pathways may be available depending on your circumstances
If cost or funding is a concern, please reach out — we’re always happy to talk through options.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. You can enquire directly through our website, phone, or email.
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Yes. Kristen and Jackie are registered with NZAC, and Tara is registered with SWRB. All hold current practising certificates and adhere to their professional codes of ethics.
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It depends on your pathway. ACC Sensitive Claims and most EAP sessions are fully funded (unless you’re coming as a couple/family). Private pay and Southern Cross health insurance session fees are available.
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Wait times vary by clinician and funding pathway. In most cases we can offer a first session within one to two weeks of your enquiry. Urgent situations are triaged accordingly.
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Yes. All of our Christchurch clinicians offer secure video sessions for clients across Canterbury and nationwide.
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That's a really common place to start. Reach out anyway — a short conversation with our admin team can help you figure out whether counselling is the right next step, and if it isn't, we'll point you towards what might be.
Ready when you are…
Reaching out for the first time is the hardest part. Once you've done it, we take it from there.
If you’d prefer, you can also contact our intake team at hello@thetherapyproject.co.nz to ask questions or discuss whether counselling with The Therapy Project feels like the right fit.
You can also call us at +64 22 474 8048.