New member of Face to Face counselling team

Johann Van Den Berg began volunteering with Lifeline Auckland in July 2007. 

“I have always had an affinity for counselling and completed a course in South Africa in the 1980s” Johann says. “But as often happens, my life since then has taken a completely different direction - I worked in a career in the media for 25 years before emigrating to New Zealand in 2001.”

Johann has now joined Lifeline’s face to face counselling team.   He completed his  PGDipEd (Counselling) at Auckland University last year and is studying  towards his Masters in Counselling. His  phone counselling skills have given him an invaluable  background for facilitating face to face work.

“As a phone counsellor, you have to micro manage a lot of counselling skills,” he adds.

He also currently volunteers  with The New Zealand Aids Foundation as a face to face counsellor and enjoys  working with a diversity of clients.

“My long-term goal is to continue with both voluntary and  agency work alongside establishing a private practice”  says Johann.