“It is not our programmes that make the impact but rather through bringing people into a sense of belonging that we empower them to make their own lasting life changes.”
– Mary Wanhill (Founder & CEO)
Your support will transform lives!
WHAT WE OFFER
At Youth Encounter, we provide therapeutic, activity-based programmes that empower young people aged 9–24 to Live Life Wide Open. Our programmes are designed around the holistic Te Whare Tapa Whā model, ensuring physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing are nurtured together.
We offer:
Therapy – One-on-one and group activity therapy that combines professional counselling (CBT, Narrative Therapy) with high-engagement activities like dirt biking and surfing. These create safe spaces for healing, emotional regulation, and growth.
Mentoring – Relationship-based mentoring that builds identity, life skills, and purpose through personalised one-on-one or small group support. Long-term connections help sustain resilience and direction.
Camps – Adventure-filled residential experiences where young people discover courage, belonging, and renewed motivation to re-engage in education, training, or employment.
Leadership – Programmes that develop future leaders through workshops, work experience, and mentoring, equipping young people to become positive role models in their communities.
Events & Projects – Community gatherings, ride days, celebrations, and fundraising projects that foster belonging and showcase transformation.
Every service is guided by our Theory of Change (Belonging → Believing → Becoming) and measured through our Strategic Outcome Framework, ensuring real, lasting transformation in the lives of young people and their whānau.
How to engage!
Make a referral (see button below) - we will assess needs and suitability and contact you
We will create a client plan for you to authorise and complete a registration consent form
We will then engage with young person to deliver client plan
Adventure, Growth & Community
Growing Leaders to Influence
Why us?
Too many young people in Aotearoa are weighed down by insecurity, lack of purpose, hopelessness, and cycles of adversity. At Youth Encounter, we don’t just respond to surface-level behaviours—we address the deeper needs that drive them.
Here’s why young people, whānau, and referrers choose us:
Proven Outcomes – Our four outcome pillars move rangatahi from Insecurity to Identity, Despondency to Purpose, Despair to Hope, and Victimisation to Resilience.
Holistic & Evidence-Based – We combine professional therapeutic practice (CBT, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing) with high-engagement recreational therapy, underpinned by Te Whare Tapa Whā and Kaupapa Māori frameworks.
Strength-Based & Relational – We meet youth where they are, focusing on acceptance, connection, and empowerment rather than trying to “fix” them.
Inclusive & Culturally Safe – With 60% of our clients identifying as Māori, our programmes embrace tikanga, whakapapa, and poutama (step-by-step growth) to support identity and resilience.
Experienced & Accredited – With over 15 years of impact, we hold Level 2 Social Sector Accreditation, AdventureMark Safety Certification, and a reputation for innovative, life-changing programmes.
Activity-Based Transformation – We intentionally use risk and adventure (like dirt biking and surfing) as tools for building courage, trust, and a growth mindset—turning healthy risk-taking into opportunities for transformation
Our Live Life Wide Open Track
Our Theory of Change is the pathway we use to guide young people from insecurity, despondency, despair, and victimisation toward identity, purpose, hope, and resilience. We call this journey the Live Life Wide Open Track.
It unfolds in three stages:
Stage 1: Belonging – Young people begin by finding a safe place of acceptance, connection, and trust, where their potential is still untapped.
Stage 2: Believing – – With growing confidence, they start to recognise their strengths, build new skills, and see new possibilities for their future, as their potential is being awakened.
Stage 3: Becoming – Finally, they step into their potential—taking responsibility, developing resilience, and becoming leaders who contribute positively to their communities.
This track is the foundation of all our programmes. Whether through therapy, mentoring, camps, or leadership development, every young person we work with is supported to move forward on this journey—growing in identity, purpose, hope, and resilience so they can truly Live Life Wide Open.
"My son is really enjoying the course with the Encounter team. He is hard to turn off when he gets home and is excited to tell us about the day. I can see he is building in himself and is more helpful at home. It is doing him wonders. Thank you very much." - Debbie (parent)