Neil Oliver Counsellor - Auckland Counselling Clinic

Neil Oliver Counsellor – Why the HDC’s Naming Powers Must Be Reviewed Legally (Not Just Ethically)

When Public Shame Replaces Due Process There’s a dangerous illusion at the heart of New Zealand’s health complaints process: that because the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) is not a court, it doesn’t wield legal power.But for the practitioners caught in its crosshairs — especially those who are publicly named — the consequences are every […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – Why Counselling in NZ Deserves Stronger Legal Protections

When a Profession Has No Shield, Every Arrow Lands For years, I believed that being a good counsellor was enough — that if I practiced ethically, stayed current in my training, and held myself to high professional standards, I would be protected.But the truth is more sobering: in New Zealand, counsellors operate without the legal […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – When the HDC Ignores Evidence That Doesn’t Fit Their Narrative

In any fair investigation, you expect one thing above all:That your side of the story will be heard. Not accepted blindly.Not treated as gospel.But at the very least, considered. That didn’t happen in my case. According to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC), when a complaint is received, there are several pathways available to address […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – The Culture of Fear Among Professionals and Why It’s Silencing the Ethical Ones

There’s a silent epidemic growing inside the counselling and mental health profession — and it’s not burnout, or compassion fatigue, or administrative overload. It’s fear. Fear of being accused.Fear of being misinterpreted.Fear of having your career ruined by one-sided processes that offer no protection.Fear that one bad-faith complaint, one distorted interaction, or one misreading of your […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – The Psychological Toll of False Complaints in Mental Health

False complaints don’t just damage reputations.They damage minds.They fracture nervous systems.They hijack your ability to feel safe — not just in public, but in your own skin. When I became the target of a false and deeply unfair complaint, what followed wasn’t just professional fallout. It was a psychological assault — one that unfolded silently, […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – Rebuilding After Reputational Destruction

There is no blueprint for how to rebuild your life when your name has been publicly damaged. No guidebook.No checklist.No five-step recovery plan. There’s no hotline to call.No mentor to turn to.No roadmap for how to carry on when the thing that’s been taken from you isn’t just your job — but your credibility, your identity, and […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – Why the HDC’s Powers of Public Disclosure Must Be Reviewed

It’s one of the most terrifying moments a professional can face: discovering that your name — and your business — have been published online by a government authority, based not on a legal finding or court ruling, but on the opinion of an administrative process carried out behind closed doors. That’s what happened to me. The Health and Disability […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – When Ethical Counsellors Are Punished for Protecting Client Privacy

The Paradox of Confidentiality In the profession of counselling, confidentiality isn’t a suggestion — it’s a sacred duty. It is the bedrock of trust, the silent agreement between client and therapist that says: “You are safe here.” It is what allows clients to speak without censorship, to cry without shame, to confess without fear of exposure. It is […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – The Psychological Toll of Being Publicly Named by the HDC

Most people will never understand what it truly feels like to wake up one day and find your name released into the public domain — not because of a criminal conviction, not because of a trial, not even because of any proven wrongdoing, but simply because of a complaint filed in private, behind closed doors, in […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – When the System Fails the Professional: The Hidden Cost of False Complaints

False complaints don’t just harm reputations — they destroy lives. For many in the helping professions, the public is unaware of just how vulnerable we are. One complaint — even if false, malicious, or unverified — can spark a years-long process that leaves mental health practitioners emotionally, financially, and professionally devastated. As a practising counsellor […]

Neil Oliver Counsellor – The Truth Behind the HDC Complaint

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE HDC COMPLAINT: A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLOR’S RESPONSE TO A DECADE-DEFYING INJUSTICE ⚠️ If you’ve seen misleading media articles or online reviews about me, please read this full statement before forming an opinion. What you may have seen is only part of the story — and this is the side that was never heard.— […]