
Heart and Mind Coaching

Athena Hemming
email: athena@heartandmind.co.nz
Phone: 021 130 6973
Or contact me using the form at the bottom of this page.



2025. LET'S SUPPORT PEACE, BOTH IN THE WORLD AROUND US AND WITHIN OURSELVES. LETS FIND PEACE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND WITH ALL EVENTS PAST OR PRESENT.
It is often a crisis of some sort that forces us to take stock of what we've experienced, to process and find the full value in who we are and what we've gained, to find acceptance and more peace. The way I see it we are constantly growing, learning and changing until the day we die.
By nature, I am a roll-my-sleeves-up-and-get-stuck-in kind of woman. From the first session I always try and give something concrete to take away and practice or think about. Sessions are an active process for me where I'm open to giving as much as my clients, (when appropriate). I share ideas, techniques and beliefs, and it is your choice what you take away and what you discard. I will probably question, challenge and clarify with you the perceptions and understandings you have about your life and life in general. If you want to discover more about yourself and why you act and feel in a certain way let’s unite our efforts!
Since we are all in relationships... with other people; with places; with plants and animals; with our computers, phones, cars and of course our families... communication is key. The words we use, and emotions attached to those words, shape our whole world and all the connections we have. I love the subject of communication. I'm quite passionate about it! In fact my whole life I have been passionate about communication. These days, being present with personal growth and strengthening heart qualities are what I seek.
Why work with Me?
To cut a long story short I've had loads of experiences. Some of them more common, others very unusual. For instance I was lowered into a huge crevasse so that other people could practice ice rescuing. To this day I still can't describe that adequately. My therapy started at 16 when I left school to go to university to study psychology. I knew I needed help and desperately wanted to change. After achieving academic qualifications I realized that I was more of an experiential learner and so set about getting as many experiences of therapy and growing as I could over many years. So having been alive since 1960 I have accumulated a useful number of skills and understandings. I am whole-heartedly attracted to increasing consciousness and love every moment of everyday!
Who: Relationships and Individuals.
Whatever the reason, I will assume a client wants change. I work with people from all walks of life, from students to executives, pensioners to plumbers, business owners to full-time mums. People come to me for a variety of reasons including feeling sad, or stressed, or having reached a crisis in their life, or after months of feeling misunderstood in a relationship. I see many couples; from those who are basically doing OK but want to refresh their communication skills to those who are about to break up and want to tick the “We’ve tried everything box”! Oh! and I really love working with young people (15-20).
Whatever the troubles I see everyone as a whole human being (with strengths, weaknesses, potentials, fears, wounds and skills etc). I've been trusted with many experiences by clients over the years from being abducted by aliens (Who am I to say this didn't happen) to some pretty abominable human behaviour. Some have called me gullible, I prefer the word open :-)
I always follow up at the next session. The more clients think about what we discuss in sessions, or try out new ways of behaving, the more they will get out of our time together. If a client comes once a fortnight (this might be what they can most comfortably afford), there will be work to do in between sessions digesting, integrating and deepening what we have talked about.
People don't always come to me because they are in crisis. Let me use an analogy: think of me as a book. A resource. For instance, parents contact me to ask if I can help their young people (children) with life. The subject of concern might be bullying, it could be anxiety, it could be a medical event. As an outsider I can say things that friends or family might be afraid to say for fear of hurting a loved one. I can offer perspectives that might never have been thought about before. They are put on the table as ideas that can be taken or left, with no pressure. But I am better than a book because I have an automatically self-adapting user interface! I will naturally adjust to those I'm sitting with to try and offer the most relevant approach! There :) The most modern and up-to-date technology available: a real human with heart and humour.
Note:If you are using weed more than socially, sessions will only help if you stop for the duration of us working together.
Rates:
Individual Sessions - $100 per hour.
Couples Sessions - $120 per hour (2 people)
Group/Family Session - $140 per hour (3 or more people)
Online Sessions - By arrangement.
Overruns - Pro-rata if the session runs more than 15 mins over.
Late cancellations and No Shows:
I do make a big effort to be accommodating and somewhat flexible to people's needs, for example working evenings and most public holidays. So, please understand when I say no-shows, cancellations or postponements within 1 hour of the confirmed session will be charged at the full price and cancellations or postponements within 8 hours will be charged at 50%.
I am sorry but I am not registered for ACC or WINZ subsidies.
MY Working hours:
Monday: On request
Tuesday: 11am - 8:30pm
Wednesday: 11am - 8:30pm
Thursday: 11am - 8:30pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday: Closed
I will beClosed 22nd Feb - 2nd Mar 2025

Recent Testimonials.
‘"Athena has been such an integral person in the growth of mine and my husband’s relationship and own individual growth. Athena has a wonderful ability to communicate clearly and thoughtfully to both of us. She listened to all the challenges we encountered everyday, from anxieties, insecurities, autism, families, friends, work, everything. She gave us the proper tools in order to communicate and self-reflect successfully. She is incredibly warm and we always finish every session feeling heard and feeling 1000 times better with a different and deeper understanding of ourselves. We are very thankful for everything she has done for us."
"Athena is a special wise women who will reach into your heart and help gently put the pieces of the puzzle back together. She understands my journey and knows what to say to make sense of things I wouldn't have ever thought of that lay deep in my unconscious . She really knows her stuff and you are never left at the end of the session with questions but more of a deeper understanding and huge weight lifted off your shoulders. Thank you for holding space for me and patiently allowing me to heal, to find myself again and the laughs too! You're a treasure ❤"
"In the course of our couples counselling and also one on one counselling my wife and I not only resolved the situation, but also made some important discoveries about our own individual selves; what created the situation we had reached, the personal things that pushed our buttons, our personal needs and desires. Athena helped make sense of nonsensical decisions on my part, and the reasons behind the deterioration of my wife and my relationship, mostly a communication breakdown.We are so good now, and so happy, and so are just so so grateful to Athena. She was for a time the most important person in our lives and she saved us. " (Couple - 2 children)
"Athena has increased my quality of life in an immeasurable way. I cannot thank her enough for her patience, time and love she has given me over the past few months. I have begun a journey now that would not have been possible without her help getting me started. I can’t believe how much of a change I feel day to day in my life now." (28yr old man.)
"I came to Athena after struggling with anxiety for decades and believing that it was possible that anxiety was who I was and I just needed help with managing it. Athena has been the only person who has helped me discover the source of my anxiety and has helped me become mostly anxiety free. I didn't think I would ever find the peace I was looking for. I'm so thankful for Athena." (Woman 30's)
"I've written a poem for you... please feel free to include it on your website.
Thank you dear woman; for your active listening; the gentle challenges ; the many kindnesses you've offered me; and your open compassionate heart. I appreciate you being present with me Athena." (man 50s)"
"Hi Athena thank you for the fantastic help you have given to our daughter. It is nice took see our little girl starting to reappear again......and Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. " (Parent of teenagers.)
"I came to Athena because I could not loose weight. This was just the beginning of the journey. I did not realise this because I had not addressed other issues . She helped me understand them, and after a few sessions, I not only found the will power to focus on loosing kilos, I managed to be happy for the first time in years. As a public sector CEO my work can be stressful but Athena gave me the energy and inner calmness to do great. She always brought a different perspective and made me think deeper into my life, past and present. Thanks Athena." (Public sector CEO)
Contact Me

Home Office Address:
75 Totara Park Road
Totara Park
Upper Hutt