How I Can Help
Whether you're seeking support for your tamariki, rangatahi or whānau, one-to-one art therapy, reflective clinical supervision, or therapy through an ACC Sensitive Claim, my practice offers a calm, creative space to do the work at your own pace.
Below is a little more about who I work with and the ways we can work together. If anything resonates, I'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch
TamarikiChildren
I began my career in the UK NHS within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and for the past 12 years I have worked in Ōtautahi Christchurch within the sexual harm sector, supporting tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau.
I bring a creative, flexible and developmentally attuned approach to therapy. I meet each child where they are at, adapting sessions to their interests, abilities and sensory needs. I have extensive experience working with neurodivergent children and those with sensory processing differences, and I value getting to know each child's unique way of experiencing and responding to the world. If a child finds it difficult to remain in a room for a full session, I am fortunate to be based next to a park where we can incorporate movement, sensory regulation and outdoor therapeutic play as needed.
My approach is strongly relational and dyadic, meaning I work closely with both parent and child. I believe parents are an essential part of the therapeutic process, and I aim to keep my work transparent, collaborative and supportive. All work with children begins with an initial parent-only session to explore your child's needs and how I can best support them, and I provide regular updates throughout your child's therapy so that you are always aware of the goals and therapeutic outcomes for your child.
I draw on a range of approaches including:
- Art Psychotherapy
- Sand Tray Therapy
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (attachment-based approach)
- Play Therapy
RangatahiAdolescents
Adolescence is a time of enormous change. As young people navigate growing independence, changing relationships and a developing sense of identity, it is natural to experience periods of uncertainty and emotional ups and downs. When these challenges are combined with trauma, loss or other significant life experiences, it can become difficult to cope alone.
Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low, disconnected, or struggling to make sense of what has happened to you, I will meet you where you are and work alongside you at a pace that feels safe.
I can work with young people experiencing:
- Sexual harm
- Exposure to or problematic porn use
- Concerning sexual behaviours
- Attachment or relationship difficulties
- Family violence
- Experience of childhood neglect or abuse
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Grief
WhānauFamilies, Parents & Grandparents
Being a parent is rewarding, joyful, exhausting and one of the hardest jobs in the world. It can bring immense joy, but it can also stir up parts of ourselves we didn't expect. If we carry unresolved pain or trauma from our own childhood, parenting can trigger this hurt and leave us responding in ways that don't always reflect the kind of parent we want to be.
The way we were parented often shapes how we see ourselves, how we build relationships and how we connect with our own children. The good news is that these patterns are not fixed. With curiosity, compassion and support, they can be understood and changed.
If you're finding parenting difficult, feeling stuck, or noticing patterns you'd like to break, I'd love to work alongside you. Together we'll explore your story, make sense of the experiences that have shaped you, and discover new ways of responding that feel more aligned with your values. I believe you have the ability to write a different future, not only for yourself, but for your children and your family. Rather than repeating patterns you've inherited, we can work together to create a story that reflects the kind of parent, partner and person you want to be.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative expression to support emotional wellbeing, healing, and personal growth. No artistic ability is needed, so don't worry about not being able to 'make art'; the focus is on the process of creating, not any finished product. By using creative mediums we can explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences in ways that words alone cannot always express. It can be as simple as finding a colour to suit your emotion or writing some words down. The important thing is that I provide a non-judgemental space for you to explore in ways that suit you.
My practice is grounded in trauma-informed and attachment-based principles, offering a safe and collaborative space for children, adolescents, parents and adults.
Clinical Supervision
As an ANZACATA Registered Supervisor, I provide reflective, creative and ethically grounded clinical supervision for therapists at all stages of their professional journey. Supervision offers a dedicated space for reflection, professional growth, ethical decision making and practitioner wellbeing, and ultimately is a place to ensure clinical excellence for your clients.
My approach is collaborative, and I see our supervisory relationship as a place where you are supported to grow professionally as a therapist through reflection and challenge.
ACC Sensitive ClaimsAdults · Tamariki · Rangatahi
I specialise in supporting people who have experienced sexual harm and understand the profound impact these experiences can have on relationships, identity, self-worth and emotional wellbeing. I have extensive experience working with individuals who have experienced intrafamilial sexual abuse, sibling sexual abuse, and harmful sexual experiences involving another child or adolescent. Whatever your experiences, therapy offers a safe and compassionate space to explore your story at your own pace.
I am passionate about supporting parents whose own experiences of childhood sexual abuse continue to affect their relationship with their children, or the way they navigate parenting alongside a partner. Together we can explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion, helping you move towards the kind of relationships you want for yourself and your family.
I also work with people whose experiences of sexual harm occurred within the context of spiritual abuse. These experiences can profoundly shape beliefs about ourselves, others and the world around us. I can support you to reconstruct a spiritual life that takes away fear, control or shame and moves you towards spiritual wellbeing and safety.
If you are accessing therapy through ACC Sensitive Claims, I provide a safe, respectful and non-judgemental space where your experiences will be met with care, compassion and at a pace that feels right for you. Please get in touch to discuss your ACC claim, or I can support you to access the ACC Sensitive Claims service.
Qualifications & Registration
Qualifications
- MA Art Psychotherapy Practice
- Post Grad Cert in Counselling Supervision
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level 1, 2 & ongoing practicum
Continued Professional Development
- Synergetic Play Therapy
- Sand Tray Therapy
- Play Therapy
- AIM U12 and AIM 3
I hold professional registration with ANZACATA (the peak professional body representing creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region), and am an ANZACATA Registered Supervisor.
Contact
If you're curious about working together, I'd love to hear from you. Tell me a little about what's bringing you here; there's no need to have it all worked out. I offer a free, no-pressure introductory call to see whether art therapy feels like the right fit.
I usually reply within a couple of working days, and anything you share is treated in confidence.
22 Cholmondeley Avenue, Opawa, Christchurch, 8023