NELSON CLINIC - Key Persons
Alison is a warm and highly skilled clinical psychologist who specialises in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for a variety of mood and anxiety disorders. Alison is a compassionate and empathic therapist, who focusses on developing a shared understanding with clients of their difficulties, whilst maintaining an active focus in therapy to enable clients to achieve their goals. She is a supportive therapist and prioritises creating a warm and collaborative therapeutic relationship with clients.
Alison completed her doctoral clinical psychology training at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London and continued to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy, which entitles her to full accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Alison completed specialist training at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT), a national specialist service delivering evidence based therapies. Alison currently works in a NHS service which specialises in providing cognitive behavioural therapies to individuals with complex mental health needs and is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). Alison currently supervises mental health professionals in the NHS and has also developed and delivered workshops to trainee clinical psychologists and trauma counsellors abroad in Sri Lanka.
Alison believes in tailoring an intervention to meet her client's needs and has expertise in drawing on principles from Schema Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Alison also believes in focusing on client's strengths and areas of resilience in her work, to help clients improve their wellbeing and quality of life.
Amanda Browning is a Registered Counsellor and is a member of The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (MNZAC).
Amanda holds a tertiary counselling qualification from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and University of Waikato respectively.
Amanda offers an integrative approach to her work which includes evidenced based modalities such as CBT and EMDR. Amanda is also trained in psychodynamic therapies, client centered, neuro-psychotherapy, Maori Models of well-being, Solution Focused and FACT. Amanda has also been trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and can offer therapy for couples.
Amanda has worked in a wide range of settings which have included Gateway Housing Trust, Motueka Family Service Centre, Motueka High School, Relationships Aotearoa Nelson and Nelson Bays Primary Health. In conjunction, Amanda has always maintained a small private practice where she accepts referrals for ACC Sensitive Claims; is WINZ approved and has a PMHI contract with Nelson Bays Primary Health.
Job Titles:
- Senior Clinical Psychologist
Amber is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and has been practicing for over 15 years in the areas of helping people adjust to life change and manage physical and mental health difficulties.
She trained in New Zealand at Victoria University, working for a few years in Wellington, and then spent seven years in Melbourne, returning home to Nelson to practice
She has specialist and international experience working as a Senior Psychologist, and has worked with various clinical presentations in private and public settings ranging from overcoming attachment and relational issues, overcoming trauma, depression, addiction and anxiety issues, managing chronic pain, through to managing periods of stress and relationship issues.
She provides services under ACC psychological services, ACC sensitive claims, private insurance, and private pay services. Amber is based in Central Nelson.
Amber works from CBT, ACT, Schema Therapy and Intensive Short Term Psychodynamic models, and particularly enjoys helping people transition through times of life change and to identify and break unhelpful emotional and behavior patterns from family or origin and other life experiences.
As Bessel van der Kolk notes, trauma is specifically an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, altering the way we process and recall memories. "Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then," he adds. "It's the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people." I am a well-established health professional who has dedicated her professional life working on releasing trauma in a natural, nurturing way, returning my clients to their natural state of wholeness. I call this "The Journey Home". I work from a neuroscience perspective. Harmonising all aspects of our being Mind Body Soul
I use a variety of evidence-based clinical approaches. I have developed a protocol called The Advancing Heart™. The Advancing Heart Protocol™ connects with the wisdom of the heart and the energy of the unified field to release emotional patterns, loops, memories and triggers created through traumatic events.
I am the owner of the Trauma Release Centre where the acronym of TRAUMA is used to clearly state what I do; Treat Reactive Available Unresolved Memory Associations. I am a member of the International Council of Psychotherapist, ANZASW, SRB and NZAFT
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist / Director: Psychological Trauma Services
Anna graduated as a clinical psychologist from the University of Auckland with a PhD in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology. She has been in private practice since 2009. In addition to a background in general mental health, Anna has a particular interest in the psychological treatment of trauma. She also specializes in the treatment of insomnia, and has worked with the New Zealand Respiratory and Sleep Institute. Within her clinical practice, Anna tailors interventions to meet individual needs, drawing on a wide range of therapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and EMDR.
Job Titles:
- Transitional Certificate in Psychology, MHSc in Psychotherapy, PGDip CBT, DBT Training, MBT Training, Yoga Teacher
Tony Morrison is a clinical psychologist at The Nelson Clinic. He practices in Nelson and the surrounding area providing neuropsychological assessment, psychological assessment and treatment services. Tony completed a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Brigham Young University in 1991. He went on to complete fellowships in Clinical Neuropsychology at Harvard Medical School, and Rehabilitation Neuropsychology at the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Master of Social Sciences, Clinical Psychology
- Master of Social Sciences, Clinical Psychology / Clinical Psychologist
- Registered Clinical Psychologist
Ariel is a registered Clinical Psychologist registered on the New Zealand Psychologists Board and a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society. She obtained her Master's degree in South Africa, after which she worked in both the clinical mental health and forensic settings providing mental health services, including psychotherapy and cognitive/emotional needs assessment, and forensic rehabilitative treatment/assessment, to a variety of diverse populations and concerns. This included experience working with acute mental health diagnoses, mood disorders, trauma, interpersonal and relational concerns, addiction, maladaptive personality adaptations, adjustment struggles, and loss.
Ariel was trained from a psychodynamic-integrative approach- she believes that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all- but rather a unique blend of various models tailored to suit individual needs. She is also comfortable in using tenets of the cognitive-behavioural, integrative, and systems approaches, and operates very much from a person-centred, humanistic point of view.
In 2020 Ariel moved to New Zealand. Her most recent role, and current part-time position, is as a Clinical psychologist within the Department of Corrections- aimed at ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of those in their care. Ariel considers herself a passionate advocate for the mental health of those who are less able, whether due to psychosocial or socioeconomic factors, to advocate for themselves.
At this stage, Ariel is accepting referrals for young adults and adults. She is also a registered Clinical Psychologist provider with ACC.
Job Titles:
- Child Life Specialist
- Masters Professional Studies in Creative Arts Therapies ( MPS ), ATR, AThR
Aurélie is a registered Art Therapist with ANZACATA (NZ) and ATCB (USA) and is based in the Nelson/Tasman area.
Since graduating from her Master's degree at the Pratt Institute in New York in 2003 Aurélie has lived and worked in several countries before settling in the Nelson region in 2015. As well as working in private practice, she has worked in a variety of settings such as domestic violence shelter, psychiatric adult day programs, pediatric hospitals, schools and hospice care.
Aurélie works sensitively with children, adolescents and adults to help facilitate the expression of difficult thoughts and feelings through creative media. She uses a client centered and multimodal approach to working with clients to meet individual needs.
Aurélie is also a trained Child Life Specialist (USA) using play therapy to help children and adolescents through hospitalisation and chronic and/or life-threatening illness.
Caoimhe (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist based in Wellington.
After completing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the National University of Ireland Galway, Caoimhe moved to Wellington, where she also works at a community mental health service for children, adolescents, and families.
Caoimhe has experience working with a broad range of clients in both community mental health and inpatient services in Ireland and New Zealand. She has trained in a number of therapeutic approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Schema Therapy.
Caoimhe enjoys working with adolescents and adults, and has a particular interest in anxiety, attachment and relational issues, and trauma. She takes a warm and collaborative approach, drawing on clients' strengths to facilitate change and growth.
Caoimhe is registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board and is an Associate Member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists.
Chantelle gained a BA in Business Studies from Brunel University, London in 1993. She originally worked around the world in IT until motherhood changed her path.
She is passionate about Holistic Therapy and has 20 years experience as a qualified Reiki, Reflexology & Clairvoyant Medium which she does in her spare time. Along side this she has worked in the health sector for the past 12 years as an Administrator which she thoroughly enjoys.
Job Titles:
- Social Worker / Pedagogue, ADR Practitioner / Mediator, Pediatric Nurse, KidPower Instructor
My passion to support people along their life's path is reflected in my professional journey as Pediatric Nurse, Social Worker, Mediator, Kidpower Instructor, and various voluntary roles in the social sector. I worked in addiction, mental health, youth work and family service. I am a fully registered Social Worker (SWRB) and member of the professional body ANZASW.
Debbie is a Registered Psychologist and a member of the NZ Psychologists Society who has experience working with Oranga Tamariki Ministry of Children. Prior to entering the practice of psychology Debbie worked for Otago and Canterbury District Health Board in New Zealand and the National Health Service in London. She is passionate and experienced in working with children, adolescents, and adults to increase health, wellbeing and functioning.
Debbie takes a compassionate, collaborative, culturally and spiritually sensitive, and evidence-based approach, and is skilled at providing assessment and treatment for a range of issues including anxiety, depression, and general life difficulties as well as providing ADHD assessments.
Her practice is informed by evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), including mindfulness-based and relaxation-based approaches.
In her spare time Debbie enjoys time with her family and friends, walking/tramping, biking, kayaking, horse riding, going to church as well as quiet reading time.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Psychiatrist
- MBChB, MRNZCGP, FRANZCP, Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry
Dr Helen Austin is a consultant psychiatrist based in Nelson/Marlborough. She has extensive clinical experience, having trained and worked as a General Practitioner for ten years prior to undertaking further specialist training in psychiatry.
Helen obtained Fellowship of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2007 and also completed a Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry.
Helen specialises in general adult psychiatry with special interests in forensic psychiatry, trauma, professional well-being and burnout.
Job Titles:
- Director: Clinical Psychiatry
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist
Elena has 16 years' experience as a Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist, specialising in management of chronic pain, brain injury rehabilitation and management of other chronic health conditions. Elena is also highly experienced in treatment of depression and anxiety issues using mindfulness-based therapies.
Emma offers a gentle, warm, down-to-earth approach to her counselling. Her approach is holistic and collaborative - taking into account the multiple dimensions of a person's life that lead to that person feeling well, and treating her clients as the experts on their lives that they are.
Emma draws on a range of approaches and techniques depending on the nature of the presenting issues and the needs of the client. With a client-centred basis, she utilises Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution-focused Brief Therapy. Since completing her training in 2010, Emma's experience has mostly been with women and young adults.
Evelyn has a MA in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, from Middlesex University London along with a DipHIP from Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC). Her rigorous training (2010-2018) included a wide range of theory, two placements and working in private practice. She had a placement alongside various NHS Mental Health Teams, and another with The SWAN Project, working with clients who struggled with alcohol and life. She also worked as operations manager at The Green House, a charity healing sexual abuse. Since 2018 she continued to work in private practice in Bristol, UK, before returning to New Zealand in 2022.
She works with adults who struggle with relationships, bullying, alcohol, anxiety, and depression. Often her clients have been abused either sexually or have survived domestic violence in their childhood. She is interested in helping people to process what has happened to them, so they feel more at peace. She is also interested in working at depth with preverbal and intergenerational trauma.
Earlier in her career Evelyn undertook a MSc Psychology at the University of Canterbury, and a post-grad paper in Career Development and Assessment from Massey University. From 1990 to 2007 she worked in various Learning and Development roles in both operational and corporate settings. Prior to that she undertook a BSc Zoology and worked in various sales roles.
Gemma is an experienced Physiotherapist and Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant with an exercise science background. She has been working in Concussion Management for 8 years, both in New Zealand and Australia. With expertise in guiding functional recovery after an injury she is committed to supporting people to get back to doing what they love. Gemma thrives on working in rehabilitation teams with people from all walks of life to achieve a full return to recreational, sporting and work function.
Germaine trained as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (children and young people) in the UK and has worked with children and adolescents for over 6 years. Germaine has since graduated as a clinical psychologist from the University of Auckland, where she gained further experience in working with child, adolescent, and adult clients. She has a particular interest in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Germaine draws upon a number of therapy models including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Systemic Therapy. She is also trained in the Triple P parenting programme and Theraplay.
Hester Phillips is a registered Arts Therapist, group facilitator and movement teacher who supports others to live their unique potential. She holds a first class clinical Master's degree in Arts Therapy, is a certified Open Floor movement meditation teacher and a graduate of the Restorative Movement Psychotherapy for Trauma Survivors programme. Hester is also the co-founder and director of Conscious Dance Aotearoa, New Zealand's annual festival of Conscious Dance. Hester's Master's thesis research explored the efficacy of trauma informed movement for clients with physical symptoms of trauma. Hester specialises in somatic approaches to trauma recovery in her busy private practice in Nelson.
Job Titles:
- Neurodiversity Clinic Coordinator / Administrator
Job Titles:
- Master of Educational Psychology
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist / Director: Psychological Services
Job Titles:
- PG Dip in Counselling Psychology Master in Health Science ( Psychology ) Counselling Psychologist