Amira Fathimath

I came into counselling from a tertiary teaching background. I was teaching part-time while studying towards a doctorate and raising my kids as a single mother. Once I graduated I continued to teach full-time. A lot of my students juggled studies and caring for family or part-time work. Many were international students with few friends or family in New Zealand. I deeply empathized with my students’ struggles. In supporting them achieve academic success, I became their unofficial mentor. The experience motivated me to volunteer as a mentor for vulnerable young people through a youth mentoring charity. I found it so rewarding that I decided to train as a counsellor to help people navigate through life’s challenges. I enjoy working with young adults, single parents, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.