Our services

Eating Awareness Team

Our mahi is focused on partnering with you to develop an action-focused plan, based on growth mindset, body acceptance and behavioral change for a healthy eating pattern to support overall Hauora and wellbeing.

Eating Awareness Service - Hauora Kai

Kia ora, welcome to Hauora Kai - Eating Awareness counselling service

Waipuna’s Eating Awareness Service - Hauora Kai, is an integrated service of experienced mental health counsellors who have undertaken additional training to help people with food management problems. We work with clients, Whaiora ages 16–64 years, to help change their relationship with food, improve eating patterns, and holistically support their health and wellbeing.

Our counsellors enjoy meeting people in a health partnership and when you come to Waipuna you will be warmly welcomed to our service. We will listen carefully to what is most important to you, respect your goals, and guide you towards the changes you want in your life. We also understand it takes motivation, planning and commitment on your part to attend counselling and make changes in your life; we will support you with that through our education and counselling sessions including:

psycho-education and self-help programmes
mental health and change counselling
practical skills and strategies to help you sustain new health behaviours.

As our work together is time-limited you will be encouraged to explore and embed new skills and strategies between sessions; some changes you will find easy, others are more challenging, together we will find out which changes take you in the direction you want. We also know that sustainable change comes from taking small, repeatable steps at a pace you can manage, and we will help you learn the essential skill of self-compassion so you can practice better self-care now and in the future.

To achieve our goals we work with you focusing on behavioural, psychological, social and spiritual health, and our non-judgemental compassionate approach draws strongly on current best practice in the fields of counselling and health psychology. We also embrace the unique New Zealand Hauora model of Te Whare Tapa Whā, sharing your journey towards optimal health in te Tinana, te Hinengaro, te Wairua and te Whānau.

Self referral

The Eating Awareness Service is committed to continually improving and developing our service, promoting access to all, and meeting your cultural needs. You are welcome to bring a support person to your appointments and please do mention anything we can do to help make your visits more accessible.

GP liaison

To help us ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all our clients we will require your consent for full collaboration between ourselves and your primary care eam, and your GP will be updated following your intake and final appointments. If a welfare concern arises during your work with us, we will discuss this with you in the first instance and contact your GP when appropriate.

Professional agency referral

If your client is currently experiencing severe mental or behavioural symptoms, or has rapidly deteriorating health, please refer them to their primary care practice for GP review. Please contact us if you are not sure about eligibility.

More information

For information on Maori and Pasifika support with healthy eating programmes see:

Puāwai – Kai: www.puawai.org.nz
Pae Ora Waitaha: waitaha.health.nz/health-professionals/pae-ora

Weight loss: EAT is not a weight loss service, we recommend consulting with your primary care team or a dietician for weight loss focussed programmes.

Nutritional advice: Our counsellors are not trained to provide dietary advice, you can find guidance for healthy eating from HealthInfo Canterbury, please consult your primary care GP or a dietician for specific nutritional guidance if you have medical conditions or take medications that limit your food choices.

Health care: Eating Awareness is a counselling service, we do not provide medical, psychiatric, or urgent/emergency care. If you are currently experiencing significant health concerns, please make an appointment to see your GP to refer to us.

Bariatric care: Our armless seating safely supports up to 200kg bodyweight, please contact us if you have accessibility/transfer issues.

Private practice services: A range of local and national service providers deliver a range of services. Some practitioners are able to offer fee-subsidised services if an eating disorder has developed in relation to an ACC sensitive claim. An online search is recommended to find a practitioner that best meets your needs.

For carer support for families and whanau, including helpful guidance and advocacy to navigate services, visit the HealthInfo Canterbury and Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand (EDANZ) websites.

For information on eating disorders see the following resources:

Referral form

Waipuna Eating Awareness Service - referral form

Contact us

Tel: 03 386 2159
Email: [email protected]