Christchurch | Otautahi

Social Worker
Phone: +64 27 369 0667

Elizabeth Hamilton

Elizabeth’s discipline is social work. She has over 30 years of knowledge, skill and experience in older person’s health (especially dementia), and in palliative care.

She currently works in three main areas: professional supervision; counselling where change, transition, loss and grief are foremost; and as an ACC social worker under contract for sensitive claims and training in Independence. When requested, she presents education and training on change, loss and grief to community organisations.

Elizabeth is registered and a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. She works compassionately and client focused, is a reflective listener, a supporter and an encourager.

Psychologist
Phone: +64 27 321 4840

Elle Morgan

Elle Morgan has been working as a registered psychologist since 2005.  Prior to this she worked as a primary school teacher mainly around Southland and Central Otago.  She has worked for the Ministry of Education Special Education Services through Otago, Wellington and Canterbury regions.  Elle has wide experience working across family, whanau and their support networks.  This has included using a variety of assessment tools to develop comprehensive plans, working in areas of high and complex needs, with people with disabilities and health needs, with at risk youth, and with people who have experienced trauma.

She is accredited to provide psychological services on behalf of ACC and she is an accredited Parent programme facilitator. Elle also provides Critical Incident Stress Management and counselling on behalf of employee assistance programme provider Vitae.

Areas of special interest include working with children, young people and facilitating parent support and education. She is also experienced in providing Supervision for practitioners within a variety of professional disciplines.

Psychologist

Emily Baird

Emily is an accomplished Child and Family Psychologist with over 17 years of experience in various settings across New Zealand and Australia. Her diverse
background includes work in community mental health, school-based environments, non-profit organisations, clinical research, and private practice.

Throughout her career, Emily has consistently devoted herself to enhancing the growth and wellbeing of children, adolescents, families, adults, and organisations.

In her clinical practice she uses a variety of evidenced based therapies and specialises in in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioural, learning and relationship problems in children, young people, and their families.

Emily is also experienced in providing ADHD and ASD assessments.
Her influence extends to corporate contexts, where she assists organisations in managing change and cultivating workplaces that prioritise mental health.

Psychologist
Phone: +64 22 689 3133

Emma Chapman

Counsellor & Social Worker
Phone: +64 27 424 5066

Gena Orpwood

Social Worker/ Counsellor
Opawa Baptist Church
285 Wilsons Road
Phone: +64 20 4024 6424

Janine McIvor

Janine is a counsellor and registered social worker who has been practicing since 2004 and is a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers.

Janine has a non-judgmental approach. She believes that people have skills, strengths, and resources, but sometimes need support to reconnect to their resources to work through difficulties in their life. She has had over 18 years’ experience working with people experiencing mental health
difficulties, survivors of sexual abuse, children, teenagers, and families.

Janine’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (psychology/sociology), Graduate Diploma in Social Work (with distinction) & a Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling from the University of Canterbury. She is currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

In her counselling, Janine likes to combine solution-focused therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Janine is an accredited ACC sensitive claims provider approved to work with individuals and groups.

Social Worker

Phone: +64 27 621 658

Joanne Timpson

Joanne completed her social work diploma in 2009 and offers support within Christchurch and North Canterbury. Her experience includes working with children and their families in Child Protection Services, Teen Parents and Youth Work. Joanne is confident in intervention and safety planning as well as supporting children and families through the Family Group Conference and Family Court process.

Joanne has sound knowledge of networks in the North Canterbury and Christchurch area.

Joanne is a registered Social Worker and holds a current practicing certificate. She is also a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers and holds a current Certificate of Competency in Social Work Practice.  

Psychologist

Phone: +64 27 712 0770

Jordan Mulholland

Jordan is a Registered Psychologist experienced in working with children, adolescents and their whānau. She is passionate about supporting young people and their whānau to make positive long lasting changes to improve their health, wellbeing, and development. Jordan aims to provide a warm, comfortable, non-judgemental and collaborative space to explore your goals and hopes for therapy. She ensures that interventions and strategies have been proven to be effective through research, and fit with your strengths and needs.

Psychologist

Kate Danna

 Kate is a child and family psychologist who has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She uses a range of therapeutic approaches including EMDR, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and solution focused techniques. Kate has experience with a range of challenges including trauma, anxiety, depression, parenting, grief, and developmental disorders.

Counsellor
Phone: +64 21 174 8528

Kathryn Daley

Qualifications: Dip. Tch (ECE), B.A (Education) Masters in Education (Certificate in Counselling)
MNZAC (Registered Counsellor)

Kathryn Daley is a Registered Counsellor and full member of the NZ Association of Counsellors’.  She is also approved to provide ACC treatment for overcoming trauma and abuse. She has been counselling since 2006. She completed her Master’s Degree in Counselling at Canterbury University.

While she was initially trained in Solution Focused Brief Therapy, her professional development and practice over time has meant that she draws from a range of therapeutic approaches that best fit the unique needs of the people that she works with. These include: Narrative Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Couples/Family Systems Therapy and Developmental Psychology/Life transitions perspectives.  She has a genuine style, down to earth and collaborative approach to working with people of all ages and from all walks of life. This is reflected in her work which has taken place across a range of settings including the  education, social services, health and justice sectors.

It has been her privilege to support people with a range of issues including: grief and loss; illness; separation and divorce; couple relationships; family dynamics; parenting; life transitions; managing stress; anxiety; depression; mood disorders; work/life balance; values and spiritual development; workplace issues; self-esteem and confidence; and recovery from abuse and trauma.

Kathryn has found that when people talk about what is happening for them, with another person as a witness that they find themselves being reminded of what they already know. Listening well and with good heart is the everyday miracle that facilitates this.

Psychotherapist
Phone: + 64 20 4032 9355

Kathy Mackenzie

Kathryn has more than 30 years’ experience offering a confidential and professional space to enable you to face issues in new ways at your own pace. Originally trained in Gestalt she is also qualified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is currently training in Psychoanalytic approaches to complement an ongoing passion for current psychological thinking, theory and research. She is an ACC sensitive claims treatment provider and is registered as a clinical and training supervisor with APANZ.

Psychologist
Phone: +64 27 202 2284

Kimberley Wilson

Counsellor
Email: krissykelly.counsellor@gmail.com

Krissy Kelly

Working with a Person-Centred and Narrative Therapy approach, Krissy recognises a person’s own capacity for healing and personal growth. Krissy believes that counselling is a collaborative process and when a person is in a safe place where they can be listened too and understood that they can empower themselves to bring positive change to their lives.

Psychologist
Phone: +64 21 540 214

Louise Barber

Counsellor & Social Worker
Phone: +64 27 961 8860

Nikki Pileff

Nikki is a counsellor and social worker. Nikki also facilitates a trauma informed yoga group, Click here for more information.

Psychologist
Phone: +64 21 164 9688

Ruth Humphries

Counsellor & Social Worker

Sarah Garrett

Psychologist

Aimee Hanson

Aimee is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist who works with clients
of children, adolescents and adults.
She has a special interest in anxiety, trauma, dissociation and comprehensive assessments
(including Adult ASD and Adult ADHD). She is experienced in treating PTSD, phobias,
OCD, excessive worry, eating disorders and panic. She particularly enjoys providing EMDR. 
Aimee currently spends much of her work time conducting specialty assessments on behalf of
ACC. She accepts referrals from ACC and Lead Providers for Mental Injury Assessments
(Sensitive Claims and Physical Injury) and Treatment Reviews (Sensitive Claims only). She
has a specialist interest in conducting complex trauma assessments, particularly for clients
with concerns regarding pathological dissociation (including Dissociative Identity Disorder).
Aimee is not currently accepting new therapy clients, although is accepting referrals for
Mental Injury assessments.

Therapy Dogs

Beau & Louis

When seeing either Cherin or Kate, you may be able to access some animal therapy via the lovely Beau & Louis.

Specialties: Being very good, therapy and emotional support trained, and looking very handsome in their Christmas outfits.

The benefits of therapy dogs (or animals) have been recorded as early as an instance in the 1860 when Florence Nightingale wrote in her book Notes on Nursing: “a small pet is often an excellent companion for the sick, for long chronic cases especially.”

Registered Dietitian

Lucy Carey

Lucy (NZRD, MDiet, BSc, FASLM) is a Registered Dietitian with extensive experience in dealing with eating disorders, disordered eating, finding true health without dieting, intuitive eating and chronic disease management. She offers in-person and online appointments.

You can find out more about Lucy at http://www.eattypelive.com

Registered Dietitian

Grace Coombs

Grace is a pelvic health physiotherapist based at Four Physio and Health in Christchurch. She works with women of all ages in helping to restore and maintain their pelvic floor health. She is experienced in managing a wide variety of complex conditions such as pelvic pain disorders, bladder and bowel conerns and pregnancy/postnatal care.

Grace works closely with those who have experienced sexual trauma and are on the ACC sensitive claims pathway, and enjoys being part of a multi-disciplinary approach to achieve best outcomes.

Occupational Therapist

Emma Jackson

I’m Emma, Mental Health OT, wife and Mum to 3 busy, noisy boys! Between home life and private practice, I enjoy exploring nature with my kids, pottering in my garden, and finding op-shop treasures. 

Work-wise, I have spent the last 13 years working in various mental health settings, including Child, Adolescent and Family work, mothers and babies, and more recently working with adults in the workplace support space. 

After a traumatic event, all sorts of life domains and activities can be affected. Sleep, work, relationships, routines, even doing the shopping or keeping on top of the washing can become a challenge. Occupational Therapists (OTs) have a holistic, dynamic and strategic outlook, and can work with individuals to create goals around and achieve the a variety of improvements.

You can find out more about Emma and her practice at her website: http://www.compass-ot.com/about

Occupational Therapist

Ella Sadler-Andrews

Ella is an Aotearoa registered Occupational Therapist and EMDR therapist specialising in trauma therapy/treatment, having spent much of her career working with developmental trauma and sexual abuse. Ella trained and qualified in the UK and made the move to Aotearoa in early 2024

She offers kiritaki a range of trauma informed therapeutic support, utilising skills from within the occupational therapy field but with a psychotherapeutic/relational/attachment focused lens. She supports kiritaki to engage in the occupation(s) (activities) they want to, need to and are expected to do. Ella has a special interest in EMDR, children, adolescents and families, but can and has worked across all ages.

Ella offers a playful, warm and kind approach. She is a creative therapist, able to be flexible in her practice to meet the needs of kiritaki. 

At this stage Ella is able to offer online sessions only. 

Occupational Therapist

Sarah Culham

I’m Sarah, an occupational therapist based in Christchurch and a proud mum of two girls. I’m passionate about helping people overcome mental health challenges and regain control of their lives. 

Occupational therapy can make a real difference by focusing on meaningful activities, daily routines, and strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. I also work with sensory processing challenges, helping clients understand how sensory experiences can impact daily functioning and mental well-being. Whether it’s developing coping skills, improving time management, or rebuilding confidence, I create practical, tailored solutions that promote positive change. I am registered with the New Zealand Board of Occupational Therapy and ACC.

Counsellor

Deborah Solomon

ACC Sensitive Claims approved Counsellor working with individuals who experience a range of challenges, Neurological Disorders (FND), Post-Concussion Syndrome, PTSD, depression, trauma, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Brain and Gut repair plans , Prison advocacy, and group work. I embrace a holistic perspective that honors cultural heritage and natural connections, fostering healing through traditional values, natural remedies, and connection with nature. My hope is to combine my lived experience with professionalism, I believe that everyone deserves the Best Duty of Care and I seek to collaborate with agencies and resources to foster a collective, holistic approach toward wellness to meets clients individual needs and goals for recovery.

Physiotherapist

Jonathan Riddell

My name is Jonathan Riddell, and I am a registered Physiotherapist with over 13 years of clinical experience
across a wide range of fields, including:

Breathing pattern disorders
I am passionate about holistic, evidence-informed care, and take a biopsychosocial approach when supporting
clients.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) injury and rehabilitation

Chronic pain management

Neurological rehabilitation

Elderly care

Registered Nurse

Michelle Fowler

Michelle is a Dapaanz Registered Addiction and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Clinical supervisor who has been active in the mental health and addiction field on a local and national level for many years.

Michelle has over 28 years of extensive background working with both youth and adults experiencing challenges with mental health and addiction with a strong passion for supporting those to make positive changes to their overall wellbeing.

Working with Te Tiriti o Waitangi is foundational to Michelle’s work.

Michelle holds Bachelor of Nursing and Postgraduate Diploma in Health sciences endorsed in addiction and co-existing disorders.

Michelle has trained in several talking therapy models and is currently completing training in EMDR for working with trauma.

Instructor

KeiShana Coursey

KeiShana teaches trauma informed yoga.