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My Approach
I am a Registered Clinical Psychologist with over 35 years’ experience working in hospitals, clinics and private practice settings. Over this period, I have done extensive counselling and conducted training programmes for individuals, professional groups and organisations. This has included presenting seminars and workshops on stress, life change, managing uncertainty in life, communication, relationships, conflict resolution and parenting skills. I have specialised in relationship counselling and use good evidence-based therapeutic approaches. I am an ACC accredited counsellor and treat various forms of trauma.
Academic and Professional Qualifications
MA:
Clinical Psychology, University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Registered Clinical Psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board
Professional Affiliations
Member of New Zealand Psychological Society MNZPS
Australia New Zealand Association of Contextual Behavioural Science ANZ ACBS
ICEEFT (International Centre for Excellence in Emotional Focused Therapy)
Therapeutic Approach
I have an integrated psychological approach that has stemmed out of extensive experience of working effectively with many clients and this has helped me develop an in-depth understanding of people’s needs and their style of coping.
It has been my experience that helping clients is about discovering what contributes to people feel stuck with a problem and struggling to resolve it. It requires an understanding of more than obvious common-sense solutions but discovering what stops obvious solutions to problems.
My therapeutic approach is to seek to understand each client’s unique specific needs and adapt my therapeutic approach according to what will be most effective. My focus is to work in a clear evidence-based fashion and work towards achieving desired outcomes.
I believe it is important to develop a comfortable, relaxed and professional trusting relationship with clients and I therefore work in a consultative manner. I develop treatment plans and goals in conjunction with clients and review progress on a regular basis to empower them to develop pragmatic problem-solving strategies.
I have had extensive training and experience in the use of well-established therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy.