Where Art Meets Empathy: The Unique Power of Person-Centred Therapy in New Zealand

In Aotearoa New Zealand, where the values of whanaungatanga (relationship), manaakitanga (care), and wairuatanga (spirituality) are deeply interwoven into everyday life, therapeutic approaches that honour the whole person are not just beneficial—they’re essential. Person-centred counselling, with its emphasis on empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity, offers a foundation of safety and respect that aligns naturally with these values. When integrated with creative arts therapy, this modality becomes a powerful, culturally responsive way to support emotional healing, self-discovery, and resilience.

At its heart, person-centred counselling trusts in the innate capacity of each individual to grow and heal when provided with the right conditions. Carl Rogers, who developed the approach, believed that the client is the expert in their own life. The counsellor’s role is to provide a non-judgmental, empathetic space in which the client can explore their experiences. This philosophy complements creative arts therapy perfectly, which also centres the client’s self-expression as the path to insight and transformation.

Creative arts therapy draws on modalities like visual art, music, movement, drama, and storytelling to allow clients to communicate what may be too complex, painful, or abstract to express with words alone. In a person-centred framework, the therapist does not interpret the artwork for the client but rather holds space for the client to find their own meanings. This honouring of the individual’s voice and narrative aligns with Māori principles of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) and acknowledges the holistic nature of wellbeing expressed through models like Te Whare Tapa Whā, which views health as the balance of spiritual, emotional, physical, and family/community dimensions.

What makes the combination of person-centred counselling and creative arts therapy especially powerful in the context of Aotearoa is its flexibility and responsiveness. It enables practitioners to work in a trauma-informed and culturally attuned way—particularly important in a nation with a history of colonisation, intergenerational trauma, and systemic inequalities. By valuing the process over the product and allowing the client to guide the journey, this approach supports reconnection with identity, culture, and story. It can be especially effective with tamariki (children), rangatahi (youth), and whānau (families), offering ways to engage in therapy that feel safe, playful, and empowering.

For creative arts therapy practitioners, grounding their work in person-centred principles is not only ethically sound but professionally enriching. It strengthens the therapeutic alliance, fosters genuine connection, and places the client's experience at the core. Whether in private practice, schools, or community organisations, this integrated approach allows for both structure and spaciousness—making room for creativity, culture, and healing to co-exist.

As the field of creative arts therapy continues to grow in Aotearoa New Zealand, embracing a person-centred approach ensures that practice remains deeply human, relational, and in touch with the diverse needs of our communities.

Wilbyn Mitchell

Counsellor and Art Practitioner