I am highly motivated to learn, to be curious, to reflect, and in sharing my enthusiasm for family therapy, assist those who are new to the field to ”feel the fear and do it anyway”. To get in the room, and discover that yes, you can work with family groups!
I have been involved in delivering family therapy since 2006, mostly using a systemic reflecting team model. I have a post-graduate Diploma in Social Work from the University of Canterbury, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Systemic and Family Therapies from the University of Otago Medical School (Wellington, 2008). I have training also in CBT principles, clinical supervision, and risk assessment and management. Presenting training material is something I greatly enjoy.
Outside of work, I especially enjoy mountain-biking (including track-building) and other outdoor activities, with travel and photography, plus a life-long addiction to F1 racing.
Post Grad Dip Social Work, Post Grad Certificate in Systemic and Family Therapies
My twenty years of social work experience has all been with adolescents (in the youth offending and mental health domains), so in some ways it was hardly surprising I arrived at a point where family therapy was the thing I most wanted to do. For some, life in a family can be one of the most complicated things they deal with, and I believe the ability to explore the challenges and blockages that can arise in family interactions is an important skill for members of the helping professions.
Every family is different, so the skills and approaches held by the therapist need to have variety as well. Therefore I favour an eclectic set of knowledge and skills that focus on unlocking those cycles of interaction which trap and frustrate people. I especially enjoy drawing up cycles of negative interactions to illustrate ”what appears to be going on,” but blame is never part of the game-plan. However finding or creating solutions definitely is.
