Approach
I have over 25 years experience of working therapeutically as a psychotherapist (in UK/Aotearoa NZ) and as a counselling psychologist (in UK). I work with couples/intimate partner relationships and individuals, and run a monthly arts-informed consultation group for therapists. My practice mainly provides time-limited therapy, although there is some availability for longer term psychotherapy.
I am an integrative psychotherapist and draw on a range of frameworks including: relational, attachment, gestalt, arts-based, mind-body and EMDR approaches. My work with couples/intimate partner relationships is informed by Bader’s developmental model and Kelley and Marriott’s framework of modern attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology.
I work collaboratively with you to support you in making sense of your struggles, within the context of your life situation, experiences, relationships and cultural understandings. Through deepening your awareness of your patterns of relating, both with yourself and others, I will support you in developing greater self-understanding, capacity for connection and communication, and making desired changes.
In Aotearoa NZ, I am a registered Psychotherapist (PBANZ), full member of Association of Psychotherapists Aotearoa New Zealand (APANZ), and Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy at a University. My academic, teaching, research and publications profile in the field of psychotherapy can be found here
Professional Background
Prior to emigrating to Aotearoa in 2015, my homeland was the UK. Living in London, I qualified as a Psychotherapist (UCKP reg. Integrative Arts Psychotherapist) and EMDR Trauma Therapist (accredited EMDR International Association) and worked for over 20 years in higher education. I am a registered Counselling Psychologist in the UK (HCPC) and Associate Fellow and Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society.
In London I developed and led postgraduate training programmes in counselling and psychotherapy, and taught at Doctoral level in counselling psychology. I iniated and delivered educational, creative and therapeutic initiatives and contribued to design and delivery of counselling services within Universities. In University Counselling Services, I was a clinical supervisor to therapists and counsellors, and offered brief and long term individual and group therapy, EMDR, and psychoeducational workshops.
Since 2015 I have been employed as a Senior Lecturer at a University. There I contribute to research, teaching, clinical and postgraduate supervision within the disciplines of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology. My key areas of teaching and research specialism are: i) sexuality and gender diversity / LGBTIQ+ wellbeing, and ii) the intersection of the arts, creative practice and wellbeing. My academic profile can be found here
My engagement with creative, embodied, and relational approaches underpins my psychotherapy and teaching practices. I engage in a regular arts practice, and support artists and those interested in developing a relationship with their creativity. My PhD applied understandings from relational psychology to voice training in music higher education.
An Arts-Informed Consultation Group for Therapeutic Practitioners
This collaborative space brings together mental health professionals seeking to enhance their clinical expertise and support their personal and professional development. This is a process-oriented and arts-based consultation group offering members an engaging and warm environment for exploration, and personal and professional growth.
Arts-based practices have been shown to support clinical insight, emotional regulation, reduce burnout, and foster resilience among mental health professionals. As therapists, engaging in arts-informed reflective methodology allows us to explore the emotional and relational dimensions of our work through creative modalities. This approach integrates response art, metaphor work, and imaginal modalities to deepen understanding of therapeutic encounters.
See below section titled ‘An Arts-Informed Consultation Group for Therapeutic Practitioners’ for more details and how to register your interest.
FAQs
Registrations and memberships
Aotearoa NZ
- Registered Psychotherapist (PBANZ)
- New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (full member)
UK
- Counselling Psychologist (Registered with UK Health and Care Professions Council)
- Associate Fellow and Chartered Psychologist of British Psychological Society (AFBPS, CPsychol BPS)
- Member BPS Section of Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity
- Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy UK (SFHEA)
Qualifications
- PhD Psychology (University College London, UK)
- MA Integrative Arts Psychotherapy (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education, validated University of North London, UK)
- EMDR Trauma Therapy Parts 1-3, Richman EMDR Training (accredited EMDR International Association, London)
- Post Graduate Diploma Psychodynamic Counselling (Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK)
- BA Joint Hons Psychology & Russian (University of Keele UK)
Fees
Couples:
- initial consultation (75 mins) $235
- ongoing session (1 hour) $215
Individuals:
- initial consultation (1 hour) $200
- ongoing session (50 mins) $185
Availability
In-person or online: Please contact for availability.
An Arts-Informed Consultation Group for Therapeutic Practitioners
Consultation Group for Therapeutic Practitioners: using an arts-informed reflective methodology
This collaborative space brings together therapists/mental health professionals seeking to enhance their clinical expertise and support their personal and professional development. This will be a process-oriented and arts-based consultation group which offers members an engaging and warm environment for exploration, and personal and professional growth.
Arts-based practices have been shown to support clinical insight, emotional regulation, reduce burnout, and foster resilience among mental health professionals. As therapists, engaging in arts-informed reflective methodology allows us to explore the emotional and relational dimensions of our work through creative modalities. This approach integrates response art, metaphor work, and imaginal modalities to deepen understanding of therapeutic encounters.
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Who Is This For?
This group is ideal if you are:
• a psychotherapist, psychologist, counsellor, arts/creative expressive therapist, or mental health professional
• seeking a reflective, supportive environment to expand professional and personal development
• curious about or experienced in using symbolic, aesthetic and arts-based processes in therapy
• interested in enhancing therapeutic skills, personal growth, and evidence-informed practice
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Group Overview
Starting soon:
To find out more and indicate your interest, please use the 'get in touch' on this page.
Duration: 6 sessions (meets once per month), 1.5 hrs each session, on Weds evenings, 6.30-8.00pm
Location: Takapuna
Group Size: 4 members (a small, closed group)
Cost: $480 (total fee)
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What to Expect
• Engage with arts materials, poetic and imaginal modalities
• Explore personal responses to clinical work through response art and countertransference art
• Develop an arts-based approach to therapist self-care
• Access to curated resources for evidence-informed practice : articles, podcasts, research, and case studies
• Space to work through personal and clinical challenges while enhancing self-awareness and development
• A safe place to discuss use of the arts in your practice through supportive peer consultation and collective wisdom
Note: This is not a therapy or supervision group, and members are required to maintain responsibility for their caseload through their own supervision and indemnity insurance. This is a reflective and arts-informed consultation group.
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Get Directions
16 Byron Avenue, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand
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https://academics.aut.ac.nz/paula.collens
November, 2025
Monday
August 26,2019
- Tuesday
- 9:00am - 10:00am
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