Sarah Waapu-Kumar

Kia ora,

Ko Puketapu te maunga
Ko Ngaruroro te awa
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Omahu te marae
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga te iwi
Ko Ngāi Te Upokoiri, Ngāti Hinemanu me Rongomaiwahine ngā hapū
No Heretaunga ahau
I tipu ake ana au ki Heretaunga, engāri e noho ana au inaianei ki Tāmaki Makaurau
Ko Sarah Waapu-Kumar ahau

Nau mai haere mai, 

Starting counselling with someone new can feel daunting, so to help you decide if i might be a good fit for you to make the initial step, here is a little about my background.

About Me:

I walk in two worlds as both a Māori and NZ European wāhine. Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay on an apple orchard, I was fortunate to experience an upbringing surrounded by my dad’s side of the whānau, connecting me deeply to te ao Māori, tikanga, and my tūrangawaewae, while also being raised within te ao Pākehā. Weekends spent weaving putiputi, kete, and korowai with my aunty taught me that what we weave with our hands reflects what we are weaving within: whakapapa, wairua, whanaungatanga, and mana motuhake. These early experiences, alongside the loss and hardship my whānau faced, gave me a deep understanding of the challenges life can bring, including grief, trauma, and the ways these shape us.

I support tangata whaiora to navigate trauma and life experiences through enhancing the taha hinengaro, and moving towards growth, healing, and reconnection. Supporting people through times of vulnerability and change is not just my work, it’s something I genuinely value and feel privileged to do.

I have experience working with but not limited to:

• Sexual Violence
• Domestic Violence
• Abuse
• Trauma
• Anxiety
• Self-Esteem
• Anger
• Relationship Dynamics
• Family Therapy
• Grief and Loss
• Identity

When the time feels right for you to reach out, i’ll be here. Together, we can explore what supports your growth, restores your sense of safety, connection, and self, and guides your healing in a way that is uniquely yours at your own pace, in your own time. You can also visit my website to find out more and make an informed decision on your hauora journey.

It would be an honour and a privilege to walk this journey alongside you.