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About Me

Personal

I'm a mum to three adult children. In my spare time I enjoy improv theatre, beach and bush walks, travelling, reading, pub quizzes, art, going to shows (especially comedy ones) and sharing a coffee with friends. I have lived on the North Shore, in Auckland, my whole life and enjoy being close to the beautiful beaches. I understand first hand how hard life can be because I have also experienced challenges and difficulties that have affected my relationships, health, children and family.  

Career

I am a fully qualified Counsellor and Nurse, with a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Master of Applied Practice and Diploma in Nursing. I also work as a Supervisor to other professionals and have a Certificate in Professional Mentoring, Supervision and Workplace Coaching Skills, and a Certificate in Supervision for Health and Social Services Professionals. I have conducted research in how women are affected by romantic relationships with narcissistic male partners, and have managed an online support group for people who are affected by any relationship with a narcissistic person. I have also managed online support groups for people who experience chronic pain and rare, incurable medical conditions. 


I left school at 16 to attend University to train as a nurse. After graduation I worked in a variety of nursing roles and sectors for 18 years. I then formed a non-profit organisation which I managed for eight years. During this time I worked as a coach and business mentor and was a finalist and winner of a few business awards. I have always enjoyed working directly with people in the helping professions and after eight years in business I returned to University and trained as a Counsellor. After completing my counselling qualification I worked in a Community Clinic and local Secondary School, and have now been working exclusively in private practice for many years. 


I'm passionate about learning, and am constantly reading and attending professional development seminars and courses to ensure that I deliver the best service to my clients. A significant part of my ongoing education has involved advanced, specialised training as a relationship therapist. I attend a monthly peer group with an exclusive focus on relationship therapy, as well as regular individual supervision. I am a Registered full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, provide Supervision for other Counsellors and professionals and adhere to the NZAC Code of Ethics. 

Areas of Interest

As a counsellor and relationship therapist I enjoy working with a wide variety of people including adults, teenagers, families and couples. I have extensive experience and advanced training in relationship therapy. I work with a range of problems and have a particular interest in:-

- Anxiety and Stress

- Depression

- Relationship issues for couples and individuals, including conflict, communication and infidelity

- Sexual difficulties

- Separation and child custody

- Parenting issues, including blended families and step parenting

- Narcissism and Narcissistic abuse

- Helping adolescents and teenagers decrease anxiety and increase their confidence and resiliency

- Neurobiology

- Supervision

Qualifications

- Masters in Applied Practice (First Class Honours)

- Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling

- Diploma in Nursing

- Certificate in Professional Mentoring, Supervision and Workplace Coaching Skills

- Certificate in Supervision for Health and Social Service Professionals

- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1

- The Developmental Model Level 1 (Relationship Therapy)

- The Developmental Model Level 2 (Relationship Therapy)

- Accredited Facilitator of My FRIENDS Youth and FRIENDS for Life Programs


Research

- Experiences of Narcissistic Abuse: An exploration of effects on women who have had a long term, intimate relationship with a suspected narcissistic male partner

Click here to read


Memberships

- Full Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (MNZAC)

- NZAC registered supervisor

- NZCCA registered supervisor

- Member of Couples Therapy NZ

Additional training courses

- Solution Focused Brief Therapy (Compass)

- Response Based Therapy for Bullying and Violence (NZAC)

- Anxiety and Mindfulness (NICABM)

- Depression (NICABM)

- Anger (NICABM)

- Trauma (NICABM)

- Working with Core Beliefs of "Not Good Enough" (NICABM)

- Working with Feelings of Imposter Syndrome (NICAMB)

- Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Dr Leah Giarratano)

- Treating Complex Trauma and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Dr Leah Giarratano)

- Working with Couples (Couplework)

- Navigating Emotional and Sexual Intimacy with Couples (STNZ)

- How To Talk About Sex for Practitioners (Tanya Koens)

- Working with Sexual Desire Discrepency (Paula Dennan)

- Developmental Trauma and Sexuality (Sex Therapy New Zealand)

- Out of Control Sexual Behaviour (STNZ)

- Male Sexuality - implications for therapy with men, women and couples (Mind Body Institute)

- Sex Ed by Porn - helping young people (Maree Crabbe)

- Neurobiology and Early Life Stress (Compass)

- REPAIR Programme - Neurobiological interventions for Early Life Trauma (Compass)

- Working with Step-Families (Mike and Adele Cornish)

- EFT (tapping) (Robyn Shepherd)

- Understanding Enneagram Personalities

- Leadership through Mentoring (Re-new Mothers)

- Leading and Guiding a School through a Traumatic Incident (MOE)

- Preventing and Responding to Suicide (MOE)

- Managing Suicides in School (MOE)


Awards

- Winner Most Community Minded Business - David Awards

- Finalist Most Inspired Use of Marketing - David Awards

- Finalist Most Community Minded Business - David Awards

- Finalist Her Businesswoman of the Year 

My Personal Life Philosophy

Once upon a time, there was an old man walking along the beach who noticed a young man reaching down to the beach, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled old man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the old man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,

"It made a difference for that one.”

― Loren Eiseley

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