MEET YOUR THERAPIST MONIKA LOVELOCK
Welcome! I'm a psychologist who believes in a warm, genuine, and deeply human approach to healing. When you step into my office, don't be surprised if I'm not wearing shoes – I often walk barefoot! I love gardening and finding peace in the ocean, and these simple joys reflect the values I bring to our work: love, kindness, understanding, and non-judgment.
​
I am a relational therapist, one who believes in going beyond rigid clinical approaches to meet you where you are. Sometimes that means offering a hug when it feels right; always, it means an open heart and mind. I've been privileged to witness countless times how people can grow, feel themselves fully, be incredibly brave, and achieve remarkable harmony and balance. It's truly inspiring to see clients learn to regulate their emotions and find their inner strength.
My journey as a psychologist in New Zealand is deeply rooted in my core belief that every single one of us holds an incredible, inherent capacity for healing and growth. What truly guides me, and the words I stand by when working with my clients, is my absolute conviction that "What happened to you is not who you are." I know, from the depths of my own experience and witnessing countless others, that even from the most profoundly difficult pasts, it is truly possible to move forward. I believe in your potential with my whole heart. My focus remains paramount on how much I believe in my clients, in humans, in relationships, and trust.
I also believe deeply in a holistic perspective, understanding that there is no separation between your mind and body. You live your life in your body, and true healing embraces both. Our work will often involve tuning into your body's wisdom, recognizing that emotions and experiences aren't just thoughts; they're felt and stored within your physical self. By integrating these mind-body connections, we can access deeper layers of healing and help you regain a sense of safety and control within yourself.
My commitment to you is firm. I offer a confidential and non-judgmental space where you can share anything and everything. There is nothing we cannot look at together. I want you to let me look at the "ugliest" things that happened to you; let's look at them together. In my experience of working with all kinds of difficult and traumatic experiences, I've never once doubted the people I work with, and I've never once felt that they will not move on and heal. I believe in my clients. I believe in human beings being able to heal from everything. I believe in your beautiful, limitless potential. You are so very loved, and I want to help you find that. Find the source of that endless love that resides within you. There is no wound that we cannot heal together.
As Judith Herman wisely said, "No intervention that takes power away from the survivor can possibly foster their recovery, no matter how much it appears to be in their immediate best interest.” I believe that healing from trauma is about reclaiming your power, and I am here to help facilitate that process.