Regional Teams
Our Auckland Team
.Deborah Sharma - Counsellor/Clinical Supervisor/Social WorkerMy name is Deborah Sharma.
I am a Registered AOD Addictions Practitioner (DAPAANZ), a Registered Clinical Social Worker (SWRB), Accredited Clinical Supervisor (DAPAANZ) and Registered ACC (ISSC) Counsellor.
I have completed a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Health Sciences (Hons.) Degrees from the University of Auckland. I have worked at Auckland District Health Board (Women and Children’s Department) and Waitemata District Health Board (CADs).
I provide counselling to individuals who are experiencing certain painful challenges, and need care and support to make better decisions about their health and future, with informed evidence-based skills.
My clinical practice provides an integrated treatment to individuals to treat mental injury(ies) caused by an event of sexual abuse or assault.
A mental injury is defined as a clinically significant behavioural, cognitive or psychological dysfunction. In my practice, I utilise Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and a Strengths-based Perspective.
I am committed to the Privacy Act 1993 and related Health Information Privacy Code 1994 to protect consumer’s health information.
Our Tauranga Team
Kate Ferris
Our Central North Island Team
Jo Robertson - PsychologistI 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.
Our Wellington Team
Richard Jeffrey - Counsellor
Richard has a long history working with male survivors, 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.
As a survivor of abuse, Richard is passionate about supporting other men to work through the challenges that often accompany abuse. Richard is a firm believer in the power of peer support, and is dedicated to developing the peer support model.
Richard grew up all over New Zealand, travelling with his family as his father worked at Country Schools. He has worked in a number of successful community organisations, as well as corporate roles in IT and project management. Richard has extensive governance experience, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2018.
Rob McGregor - Counsellor
After two and half decades working my own para-medical clinic managing complex injuries to the lower limb I lost that career due to personal injury.
It meant a few years walking a personal wilderness trying to figure out what life was, and also gave me time to process some abuse events I experienced as a child and young person.
Did that really happen? What do I call that? What does the Law call that? And the questions went on and on...
Now I have names for all that stuff and the accurate interpretations. Now I know how to park those ideas and experiences, and it has freed me enormously to engage in life in a much more meaningful manner.
I worked with refugees from Vietnam (1988), a short period with St Stephan's Society in Hong Kong working with drug addicts (1988), community-based counselling and counsellor training with Elijah House (2007-2010), and co-facilitated training programmes with Jubilee Resources nationally and in the Caribbean (2010-2015). I am currently formalising my counselling experience into a Bachelor of Counselling degree.
Most of my work is with men, and my interests are in counselling and managing trauma, abuse, suicide and grief. I have worked with couples, one-to-one and group-oriented peer support work.
I have my own counselling practice - Resolve Counselling.
Hannah Brittain - Counsellor
Hi, I'm Hannah. I gained a Bachelor of Counselling in 2012 and have worked primarily as a drug and alcohol counsellor. I have also worked as a counsellor for a young adult cancer charity.
Aside from my role at Men and Trauma, I am a 220-hour trauma-informed Yin Yoga teacher.
I'm thrilled to be a new team member at Men and Trauma.
Lucas Jones - Peer Facilitator, Rainbow Liaison & Youth Services Team Leader
Lucas has been involved with various youth support services all over New Zealand since 2012. Having most recently worked alongside the team at Kapiti Youth Support as one of their youth support and facilitators for their LGBT support service 'Project Youth'.
Lucas first became involved with Mosaic-Tiaki Tangata in 2016. After taking a wee break to study, Lucas has since stepped into the role of Rainbow Liaison and Youth Support Worker.
Lucas is also currently studying towards a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring in Music.
He hopes to further this into Music Psychology and hopes to integrate this into his work with social and support services.
Katie Lane - Yoga therapist
Kia ora. I’m Katie. I have been working with body centred therapies using embedded counselling skills for over 10 years. I’m currently completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and plan to go on to the Masters of Counselling programme.
Passionate about the role of the body in the process of healing, I am also currently training in Somatic Experiencing, a body based approach to working with trauma.
I am a long time yoga teacher specialising in yoga therapy. While initially my work centred around physical rehabilitation and working with those many years of earthquakes, my therapy work became much more focused on mental health - helping those challenged by and working through anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma. In the past, I’ve worked with ACC Sensitive Claims and in liaison with psychologists to offer trauma sensitive yoga for sexual abuse survivors.
I am inspired by Mosaic-Tiaki Tangata’s vision and the incredibly important work that they do to support abuse survivors in the recovery process and men’s mental/emotional health full stop.
Linda StraussHi, my name is Linda and I am originally from South Africa.
Kim Narsi - Clinical Psychologist
Hello, my name is Kim Narsi and I am a registered Clinical Psychologist who has been practicing in Wellington for over twenty years.
My role for Men and Trauma will be to complete any Supported Assessments that people need to try and access ACC care.
I have been conducting these assessments for over ten years with adolescents and adults.
I have experience in adult mental health and child development as well as working with ethnically diverse people.
I look forward to helping you in your journey.
Naomi Afoa - Counsellor
Fiona Ryland - Counsellor
Anthony Bailey - Counsellor
Our Canterbury Team
Anna Francis - Counsellor
Cate Walton - Counsellor
Paula Partington - Psychotherapist
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.Michael O'Dempsey - Counsellor & Social WorkerI have been working in social work / counselling settings since 1983 and supervising since 1986.
I have 7 years’ experience working in residential care. 6 years’ experience in care and protection.
4 years’ experience in Community Social Work agencies. 6 years’ experience in counselling and I am currently in private practice as a counsellor/trainer.
I am a Family Court Counsellor and have recently been appointed as the ANZASW Competency Assessor in the Canterbury/ Sth Canterbury/Westland Area.
I contributed to “Developing Reflective Practice -Making Sense of Social Work in a World of Change” (2000), Helen Martyn (ed.), National Institute of Social Work (UK) and the Policy Press London.‘
I also presented a paper ‘Children’s Experiences of Using Community Counselling and Family Work Services’ at the 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect held in Wellington.
Recently a colleague and I have developed a group-training programme for supervisors and supervisees ‘Reflecting on Practice through Supervision’
Our Otago Team
Olga Pushenko - Psychologist
.Deborah Sharma - Counsellor/Clinical Supervisor/Social WorkerMy name is Deborah Sharma.
I am a Registered AOD Addictions Practitioner (DAPAANZ), a Registered Clinical Social Worker (SWRB), Accredited Clinical Supervisor (DAPAANZ) and Registered ACC (ISSC) Counsellor.
I have completed a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Health Sciences (Hons.) Degrees from the University of Auckland. I have worked at Auckland District Health Board (Women and Children’s Department) and Waitemata District Health Board (CADs).
I provide counselling to individuals who are experiencing certain painful challenges, and need care and support to make better decisions about their health and future, with informed evidence-based skills.
My clinical practice provides an integrated treatment to individuals to treat mental injury(ies) caused by an event of sexual abuse or assault.
A mental injury is defined as a clinically significant behavioural, cognitive or psychological dysfunction. In my practice, I utilise Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and a Strengths-based Perspective.
I am committed to the Privacy Act 1993 and related Health Information Privacy Code 1994 to protect consumer’s health information.
Our Tauranga Team
Kate Ferris
Our Central North Island Team
Jo Robertson - PsychologistI 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.
Our Wellington Team
Richard Jeffrey - Counsellor
Richard has a long history working with male survivors, 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.
As a survivor of abuse, Richard is passionate about supporting other men to work through the challenges that often accompany abuse. Richard is a firm believer in the power of peer support, and is dedicated to developing the peer support model.
Richard grew up all over New Zealand, travelling with his family as his father worked at Country Schools. He has worked in a number of successful community organisations, as well as corporate roles in IT and project management. Richard has extensive governance experience, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2018.
Rob McGregor - Counsellor
After two and half decades working my own para-medical clinic managing complex injuries to the lower limb I lost that career due to personal injury.
It meant a few years walking a personal wilderness trying to figure out what life was, and also gave me time to process some abuse events I experienced as a child and young person.
Did that really happen? What do I call that? What does the Law call that? And the questions went on and on...
Now I have names for all that stuff and the accurate interpretations. Now I know how to park those ideas and experiences, and it has freed me enormously to engage in life in a much more meaningful manner.
I worked with refugees from Vietnam (1988), a short period with St Stephan's Society in Hong Kong working with drug addicts (1988), community-based counselling and counsellor training with Elijah House (2007-2010), and co-facilitated training programmes with Jubilee Resources nationally and in the Caribbean (2010-2015). I am currently formalising my counselling experience into a Bachelor of Counselling degree.
Most of my work is with men, and my interests are in counselling and managing trauma, abuse, suicide and grief. I have worked with couples, one-to-one and group-oriented peer support work.
I have my own counselling practice - Resolve Counselling.
Hannah Brittain - Counsellor
Hi, I'm Hannah. I gained a Bachelor of Counselling in 2012 and have worked primarily as a drug and alcohol counsellor. I have also worked as a counsellor for a young adult cancer charity.
Aside from my role at Men and Trauma, I am a 220-hour trauma-informed Yin Yoga teacher.
I'm thrilled to be a new team member at Men and Trauma.
Lucas Jones - Peer Facilitator, Rainbow Liaison & Youth Services Team Leader
Lucas has been involved with various youth support services all over New Zealand since 2012. Having most recently worked alongside the team at Kapiti Youth Support as one of their youth support and facilitators for their LGBT support service 'Project Youth'.
Lucas first became involved with Mosaic-Tiaki Tangata in 2016. After taking a wee break to study, Lucas has since stepped into the role of Rainbow Liaison and Youth Support Worker.
Lucas is also currently studying towards a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring in Music.
He hopes to further this into Music Psychology and hopes to integrate this into his work with social and support services.
Katie Lane - Yoga therapist
Kia ora. I’m Katie. I have been working with body centred therapies using embedded counselling skills for over 10 years. I’m currently completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and plan to go on to the Masters of Counselling programme.
Passionate about the role of the body in the process of healing, I am also currently training in Somatic Experiencing, a body based approach to working with trauma.
I am a long time yoga teacher specialising in yoga therapy. While initially my work centred around physical rehabilitation and working with those many years of earthquakes, my therapy work became much more focused on mental health - helping those challenged by and working through anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma. In the past, I’ve worked with ACC Sensitive Claims and in liaison with psychologists to offer trauma sensitive yoga for sexual abuse survivors.
I am inspired by Mosaic-Tiaki Tangata’s vision and the incredibly important work that they do to support abuse survivors in the recovery process and men’s mental/emotional health full stop.
Linda StraussHi, my name is Linda and I am originally from South Africa.
Kim Narsi - Clinical Psychologist
Hello, my name is Kim Narsi and I am a registered Clinical Psychologist who has been practicing in Wellington for over twenty years.
My role for Men and Trauma will be to complete any Supported Assessments that people need to try and access ACC care.
I have been conducting these assessments for over ten years with adolescents and adults.
I have experience in adult mental health and child development as well as working with ethnically diverse people.
I look forward to helping you in your journey.
Naomi Afoa - Counsellor
Fiona Ryland - Counsellor
Anthony Bailey - Counsellor
Our Canterbury Team
Anna Francis - Counsellor
Cate Walton - Counsellor
Paula Partington - Psychotherapist
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.Michael O'Dempsey - Counsellor & Social WorkerI have been working in social work / counselling settings since 1983 and supervising since 1986.
I have 7 years’ experience working in residential care. 6 years’ experience in care and protection.
4 years’ experience in Community Social Work agencies. 6 years’ experience in counselling and I am currently in private practice as a counsellor/trainer.
I am a Family Court Counsellor and have recently been appointed as the ANZASW Competency Assessor in the Canterbury/ Sth Canterbury/Westland Area.
I contributed to “Developing Reflective Practice -Making Sense of Social Work in a World of Change” (2000), Helen Martyn (ed.), National Institute of Social Work (UK) and the Policy Press London.‘
I also presented a paper ‘Children’s Experiences of Using Community Counselling and Family Work Services’ at the 10th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect held in Wellington.
Recently a colleague and I have developed a group-training programme for supervisors and supervisees ‘Reflecting on Practice through Supervision’
Our Otago Team
Olga Pushenko - Psychologist
