What is the most important thing in the world?
According to the Maori proverb the answer is:
He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata.
It is the people, the people, the people.
Professional counselling services for young people who attend a Cambridge public school
Cambridge Lifeskills provides complimentary counselling services to the 13 public schools in the Cambridge district – funded by our community and grants received. Our counsellors work with tamariki and rangatahi, age 5 - 15 years old with family / whānau frequently included in the work we do with the children.
This counselling service is an integral part of the support network available to the students of Cambridge public schools.
Please note due to demand and our current waitlist referrals for CHS students are not possible. Please contact your GP.
Cambridge Lifeskills 2025 Fundraising Golf Tournament
On Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 108 enthusiastic golfers teed off with a shotgun start for the annual Cambridge Lifeskills Fundraising Golf Tournament. The weather couldn’t have been better — not a drop of rain all day — and the excitement was evident, with one eager team arriving very, very early! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our golfers, hole sponsors, and auction sponsors, more than $16,000 was raised to support the important work of Cambridge Lifeskills. We are deeply grateful to our community for the ongoing support — we truly couldn’t have done it without you.
Local services for local children
Being local enables whānau with students in different schools to be seen and counselled in their familiar school environment.
To place a referral, please complete our referral form in the footer and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Please also read our Waitlist Policy.
Your contributions help us provide these services
Cambridge Lifeskills is a charitable organisation. We do not receive any government funding but rely solely on the generosity and support of our fabulous Cambridge community as well as working tirelessly to raise funds to provide these services.
If you are able to contribute to the cost of these services, this will pay it forward for the next child.
Let's join hands to change all children's futures.
Find out about Lifeskills Club 83 and how your contributions benefit our students.
Why we do need to
offer these services?
Since our counselling service began in 1992 there has been a steady increase in the need for such a service in the community.
Changes in society have meant many children are now exposed to an increasing range of issues, including bullying, abuse, family issues & more recently Covid. Children often do not have the skills to deal with these issues.
Cambridge Lifeskills aims to offer counselling, support and encouragement so that children/young people can work through these issues. Developing skills for managing.
At the end of the counselling process with your child and family, we will send a short evaluation form for you to complete. Your experience is valuable to us, we appreciate knowing your feedback so we can maintain a quality service.
Advice and recommendations for counselling outside of school
If your young person would like to see a private counsellor outside of school, please contact Lifeskills for advice and suggestions to suit his/her individual needs.
Email us or call 021 190 1760 and leave a message and one of the team will get back to asap.
What we do offer counselling for?
Counselling Criteria
General counselling where tamariki, rangatahi and whanau need support to work through a specific event or situation such as:
Friendship struggle, Parental break-up, grief etc…
We do routinely refer students on to other more appropriate services; this is to ensure that young people and families receive the support that is best in both the short term and long term. Please don’t be offended if we refer you on, we want what is best for your child and sometimes that is not Lifeskills.
Our Scope of Practice
Our Counsellors have an ethical responsibility to work within their scope of practice; we are fortunate to have a range of other services to refer to. Some examples of these are:
Hospice Rainbow Place07 859 1260 – For children dealing with a dying family member
True Colours07 839 4800 – Supporting children with a serious health condition and their families
Gumboot FridayGumboot Friday rallys New Zealanders to raise funds for free counselling to young Kiwis in need. Email: team@gumbootfriday.org.nz
Special Education Services / Rostrevor House07 853 2533 - for ADHD
Being my Best – Sue Lyon021 1462 900 – Self-esteem and social skills group work
Professional counselling for Cambridge-school tamariki and rangatahi is free (Please note there is a charge if Government Agencies refer, contact us for details).
Cambridge Lifeskills offers both Counselling & Child Play Therapy (CPT) for tamariki who are referred. Generally, Counselling is for the older age range 8 - 15 year olds and CPT is for the younger range 5 - 7 year olds.
Where do we do it?
We are a mobile service working primarily at your child's school (if in the more central Cambridge district), however we can sometimes provide counselling at our counselling room in Cambridge.
Our agency is at 56 Queen Street, Cambridge, email info@cambridgelifeskills or phone 021 190 1760 if you would like to speak to someone about a child.
Local Cambridge
Natalie Gibbons Counselling | Cambridge Family Therapy | Being My Best |
1737Whatever it is, we’re here. Free call or free text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor or talk to a peer support worker. Our service is completely free.
Lifeline Aotearoa0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) or send a text to HELP (4357) for free, 24/7, confidential support – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What's Up?free call 0800 942 8787 | Mon-Fri 12pm-11pm | Sat/Sun 3pm-11pm | chat online whatsup.co.nz Mon-Fri 1-10pm | Sat-Sun 3-10pm
Take care of our children.
Take care of what they hear, take care of what they see, take care of what they feel.
For how the children grow, so will be the shape of Aotearoa.
Dame Whina Cooper.
Photographer: Michael Tubberty