Kore rawa i takaroa ano ki te tautuhi tetahi atu tohenga ki te moemoea ranei he moemoea hou
It’s never too late to set a new goal or to dream a new dream
I am passionate about providing empathic, evidence-based psychological care
I am a Registered Clinical Psychologist with more than a decade of clinical experience.
Clinical Psychologists are trained to be able to provide evidence-based psychological help for a wide variety of presenting problems, such as depression, anxiety, grief, problematic behaviours and trauma to name a few. I am passionate about providing empathic, evidence-based care to my clients.
“Empathic care” means that I meet my clients where they are at, pace therapy appropriately to their needs and hope to provide a genuine, open therapeutic relationship.
“Evidence-based” means that therapy provided is based on up-to-date scientific principles. An integral part of maintaining my registration is ensuring I engage in professional development through attending workshops, reading scientific literature and using professional supervision regularly, to ensure I am providing the best care possible for my clients.
Therapy sessions are spaced usually weekly or fortnightly as appropriate and will be discussed with you. At the outset of therapy, a thorough psychological assessment is conducted so I can get a good sense of what is going on for you and can develop an appropriate treatment plan. Treatment goals come from engaging in a collaborative process with you.
I have worked with clients from a variety of cultural, gender diverse and spiritual backgrounds. I identify as a cis-gender Pakeha/New Zealand European female, but I hope that I practise in a way which is culturally inclusive and appropriate. Throughout my training and career to date I have received bicultural supervision and training. Please feel free to bring a support person with you if you wish.
Please see FAQ for more information about the therapy process, costs and other information.
Professional Bodies and Memberships
- Registered Clinical Psychologist under the New Zealand Psychologists Board
- Full Member New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (MNZCCP)
- Member of Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA)
Education
- Bachelor of Science (BSc, Psychology) 2004, University of Canterbury
- Bachelor of Arts, Honours (First Class) 2005, University of Canterbury
- Master of Science in Psychology (Distinction) 2009, University of Canterbury
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClinPsyc) 2010, University of Canterbury
Clinical Experience
The three year Postgraduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology (PGDipClinPsyc) is a comprehensive programme incorporating both academic work, as well as clinical placements and experience. The final year is an internship year, during which I worked for six months at the CDHB Mothers and Babies service, and six months at the CDHB Anxiety Disorders Unit.
Subsequent to completing my PGDipClinPsyc in 2010, I worked for the Department of Corrections, specialising in treatment of sexual offending. Within this role I gained significant clinical experience in assessing and treating many forms of criminal behaviour, as well as mental health diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety disorders; gender and sexuality issues; interpersonal problems such as assertiveness training and conflict resolution; emotion and self-regulation.
I have spent some time on maternity leave, and since then have worked at the University of Canterbury Student Health Centre providing brief intervention counselling and psychology to the students enrolled there. This has furthered my clinical experience through the range of presenting problems there, including mood and anxiety disorders, relationships, suicidal thinking, sexual dysfunctions, drug and alcohol use, low self-esteem, time management and procrastination.