About
Irene Begg
Irene has a long history in the Social Services field which began in the early 1990's in Victims Support, then in Womens Refuge as a Non Maori Co-Ordinator. She also spent 8 years as a Generic Social Worker, Supervisor, Care & Protection Co-Ordinator for Oranga Tamariki formerly Child Youth & Family. Irene was employed by Ngati Awa Social & Health Services as one of the Social Workers in Schools a new initiative by MSD from 2000-2005 in the Eastern Bay of Plenty working with predominantly Maori whanau in three Decile One to Three Primary Schools.
In 2007 to 2009 Irene was Practice Manager for Methodist Social Services in Palmerston North and then began counselling fulltime for Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga in Palmerston North & Whanganui providing relationship counselling to couples, Family Court Counselling and Domestic Violence Programmes for both male and female Respondents and Protected Persons.
In 2009 Talkin Headz Counselling practice was opened in Rotorua and Irene established her own therapy business there until Sept 2020 when she relocated her business to her home based clinic at Otakiri near Whakatane in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Irene offers zoom and phone sessions which meets the needs of many of her Supervision clients and private/ACC clients especially allowing flexibility of service delivery since the covid-19 pandemic.
Irene has a wealth of experience in EMDR trauma therapy, completing her basic training in 2010, and went on to complete many Master/Advanced EMDR & Dissociation trainings with EMDR Institute Programme Director and Trainer Roger Solomon, USA. Irene was a EMDR NZ Board Chairperson for several years and also EMDR Board member since its inception in 2014 and ongoing member of EMDR NZ Association.
Irene has a wealth of experience in trauma counselling, offering EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing) Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression and phobias. Irene also provides relationship and individual counselling, family violence, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, single parent families and blended family issues. Irene has experience in counselling disabled and deaf clients, gay and lesbian couples and clients whom are victims of discrimination in its various forms.
Irene has a National Diploma in Counselling and is a long term member of NZ Association of Counsellors and Aotearoa NZ Association of Social Workers. Irene has met EMDR Institute requirements to be an EMDR Consultant and has completed many advanced therapy trainings. Irene has had full membership of the NZ Association of Counsellors since 2004, and non practicing member of Aotearoa NZ Associating of Social Workers since 2000.