Our Clinicians

Available Remotely / Wellington / Manawatu / Central Nth Island / Southern areas / Banks Peninsula / Otago

Michael Keith

Location: Wellington
I am a counsellor and mental health coach in private practice, with a special interest in trauma resolution.

​My training in the Human Givens approach (humangivens.com) is aimed at delivering effective brief therapy for clients. It is based on empowering insights into the place of emotional wellbeing in healthy minds. It includes the rewind process, using deep relaxation and guided imagery, for resolving trauma.
 
The rewind process is the therapy of choice for trauma support organisations like PTSD Resolution in the UK (ptsdresolution.org). The process is non-intrusive – there is no need for the client to recount their trauma. They simply need to be able to access its emotional effect. The process essentially reprograms the disturbing triggering and turns traumatic memory into a normal, if bad, one.

The rewind is part of the Human Givens’ holistic approach. This works with how the client is meeting their emotional needs and dealing with the challenges of their current situation. The approach is aimed at empowering the client to use their inborn resources and the strengths of their life skills to achieve their goals for emotional wellbeing and clear thinking.

Matt Eden - Mental Health and Addictions Practitioner

Location: Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt
Kia ora tātou,

Ko Matt Eden tōku ingoa
Nō Ingarangi ōku tūpuna
I tupu ake au i Ingarangi
Kei Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai au e noho ana
He Kaiwhakamahereora Hinengaro ahau

I am thrilled to join Men and Trauma part-time, where I aim to create a nurturing therapeutic space in the heart of the Hutt Valley. As a practitioner, I deeply value the connections I make with others. Drawing from my rich and diverse life experiences, I bring a unique depth of empathy to my work.

My guiding philosophy is rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which encourages us to embrace what we cannot change, and focus on actions that bring meaning and joy to our lives. This approach is about supporting you in crafting a life that feels authentic and fulfilling, even amidst life's inevitable challenges.
With a Bachelor's degree in Counselling and Addictions Practice, and currently on Provisional Registration with DAPAANZ, I am committed to providing you with compassionate support.

I look forward to walking alongside you on your journey.
​Ngā mihi mahana

Kim Dobchuk - EMDR Therapist

Location: Wellington
Kia ora,
I am a Registered Mental Health Nurse seeking clients to further my current EMDR Therapy training. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is a form of therapy identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help people heal from the symptoms of trauma and emotional distress from disturbing life experiences.

​If you are interested, please contact me through this website.
Ngā mihi nui.

Jonathan Beezer

Location: Wellington
Life is often hard, and for many years I've found it enormously helpful to talk my problems through with a counsellor.

I have personal lived experience of depression, suicidal thoughts, significant mental illness, divorce, job loss, and more. I have also discovered the joy of facing my issues, taking responsibility for myself, and moving on to live a positive and fulfilling life. I would love to work with you using my experience and training to help you figure out how to get through your stuff.

Along with the primary issues we work with at Men and Trauma, I specialise in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other common mental/emotional challenges. As well as relationship problems, grief, life goals, meaning of life, stress, work conflicts, and more. I am fond of CBT and broadly Rogerian approaches, however I favour choosing the techniques that will best fit your needs, in consultation with you.

I'm now in my 50s and jobs I've worked in include builder's labourer, steel factory shift worker, web developer, business analyst, university tutor. I have a Masters degree in sociology, and my unpublished PhD thesis was the basis for learning to overcome my bipolar disorder.  Peer support is a foundation of my approach. In this regard, I am also a board member of Kites NZ, a well-regarded peer-based mental health charity, and I was a past "consumer advisor" to the Wellington 3DHB before its restructure.

Complimenting my work with Men and Trauma I run my own counselling practice.

In my personal life, I am a father to two awesome kids, and am passionate about music, close friends, cooking, and nature.

Richard Jeffrey - Therapist

Location: Wellington
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Hi, I am an experienced trauma therapist and have a long history working with male survivors of trauma, having been one of the founding trustees of New Zealand’s first peer support service for male survivors of sexual abuse in the early 1990s. 

I strongly believe that supporting men to work through the challenges that often accompany abuse benefits their relationships and the community as well.

I am experienced in working with people of all ages, genders and sexual orientations. I like working with young people, couples and families.

My clients include Pakeha, Maori, Pacifica, African, Asian and other ethnic groups. People from the Disabled, Rainbow, Kink and Refugee communities

My skill set includes:
- Therapeutic peer support groups
- Sexology
- Trauma and Sexual abuse recovery
- Somatic experiencing
- Relationship issues
- Racism issues
​- Anger Management
- Addiction work

I have worked in a number of settings, including:
- Corrections
- Student counselling
- Suicidality
- Police advocacy and court support

Jo Robertson - Psychologist

Location: Manawatu
I have worked for the last 20+ years to develop ways to assist people to reach their goals in all areas of their lives. Over the last twenty three years I have developed a strategy which assists people to ensure they are performing at the peak of their performance.

​I have been successful in both the business world and the helping professions whilst successfully raising a family to adulthood. I am motivated by my own life experiences and the need to assist others to reach their full potential.

My training has included in a Master of Arts (Hons) (Organisational/ Industrial Psychology) and a Master of Applied Social Work. My areas of research have included workplace relationships, workplace productivity, and self-care at work.
 
During my career I have assisted people from all walks of life to affect change in their lives and to reach their goals. I work hard to provide privacy and confidentiality for all my clients.

John Wickham-Nelson

Location: Ruapehu / Taihape
I have worked with men from all walks of life since 2007. My aim is to assist and work with clients to process their past hurt, injustice and trauma which may be causing troubles in their interactions and relationships with others and their self. At the heart of my work is enabling men to live a more wholesome life, to heal and be freed from the shackles of trauma so they may enjoy their precious human life with digity and integrity.

​I am registered with NZAC, an accredited ACC Counsellor (Sensitive Claims), BWRT Practitioner & a Family Mediator. My counselling approach is client centred and led (Narrative) as well as engaging with Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) and BWRT (Brainworking Recursive Therapy). I work part-time with a Whanganui Based Trauma agency and have a private practice in the Ruapehu and Taihape region.

Vic Turner

Location: Banks Peninsular
Vicki specialises in complex cases involving trauma and grief.
She is committed to helping you unpack and come to terms with the pain, hurt and confusion of your situation.
​
Vicki will support you to discover and create awareness around trauma.
She will also assist you to find new ways toward the clarity and vision of a brighter future.

Chris Starling

Location: Otago 
I am a counsellor working through a person centred model. Person centred counselling is a relational therapy. Healing takes place through and within the relationship between therapist and client. The relationship is ‘intentional’, in that it is fostered and nurtured by the therapist. My job, as a therapist, is to create a safe space in which healing can take place. Not necessarily a physical space, although typically it is within a physical space, but I myself am the safe space, the ‘holding’. 

​Creating a safe place and being present allows clients to explore their thoughts and feelings as they arise, and reveals to them the patterns that have been in place, often for many years, and often as an out-grown self-protection.  
​
I help to facilitate change by walking alongside the client, and in acknowledging the inherent unbrokeness which resides in all of us and which the client gradually uncovers in themselves. Healing, in a sense, is a resonance - that has been my experience.

Sancia Duncan

Location: Wellington
​I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Guidance and have just recently completed my Masters in Counselling. I am a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and the New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association.

In sessions with clients I use a pluralistic approach that is client centred and based on the needs of the individual. I have a particular interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Solution Focused Therapy, however I am not limited to these modalities.

I have experience working with adults and youth from various cultures and backgrounds. I see it as a privilege to support and journey alongside people offering hope as they grapple with the challenges in life.

I believe that each individual knows what is best for them and that they have within them the resources needed to make change. You can expect to feel valued, respected and heard in sessions with me without any judgement.

Nilene Rama
- Registered Social Worker, Bachelor in Social Services, Masters of Applied Social Work & Certificate in Supervision

Location: Manawatu
I have a passion for working with clients and their whanau in the community and I love making a difference in the lives of others. I have over ten years’ experience working in mental health and addictions, family and sexual harm intervention and prevention and working alongside those who have experienced childhood trauma.

​I apply trauma informed practice into my work regularly and I am trained and experienced in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Interactive Drawing Therapy.

Paula Partington - Psychotherapist

Location: Southern
My Experience
I have been working in counselling and psychotherapy since 1990, in the UK and New Zealand. Prior to practicing in New Zealand, I worked in Psychology Departments in the National Health Service with adults, children and adolescents, as well as individuals, couples and groups.

I also gained experience in residential social work and special needs education, as well as in working non-governmental organisations (NGO’s).

​Additionally, I worked in my private counselling and psychotherapy practice, and supervised counsellors and trainee psychologists.
In New Zealand I have worked in NGO’s and in private practice with adults, children, adolescents and their families, as well as with deaf clients, and specialise in working with disordered eating and body image issues.

​I currently supervise counsellors, psychotherapists, and those in allied fields, and tutor counselling students working towards their degree.

My experience also includes substantial post trauma and resiliency work in Christchurch and Canterbury with children and families, schools and organisations, as well as providing training workshops, supervision and consultancy.
 
My Philosophy
I provide a safe, non-judgemental, and supportive environment for clients to work through the difficulties they are facing. My approach is to enable clients to build on their existing strengths and resources to solve their problems and meet their goals.

My core approach is based on working in the therapeutic relationship and Transactional Analysis, integrating up to date research on neurobiology and mindfulness. I also have training and experience in other methods of working including Person-Centred Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and play based approaches.

​I integrate these as appropriate to meet the needs of the person I am working with. I work with warmth, creativity and humour.