Dr Paula Collens

Approach

I work with individuals and couples/intimate partner relationships, and offer time-limited and longer term psychotherapy.  This is negotiated with you according to your therapeutic needs.

I am an integrative psychotherapist and draw on a range of frameworks including: relational, attachment, EMDR, arts-based and mind-body approaches.  My work with couples draws on the developmental model.

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) and full member of New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (NZAP) where I currently co-ordinate the NZAP Rainbow Roopu.

Background

I emigrated to Aotearoa NZ in 2015 from the UK.  Prior to moving here I trained in London as a Psychotherapist (UK Council for Psychotherapy registered) and EMDR Trauma Therapist (accredited EMDR International Association), and regsitered as a Counselling Psychologist (HCPC UK).  I worked for over 20 years in London Universities where I taught on postgraduate training programmes in psychotherapy, counselling and counselling psychology.  I worked clinically in private practice and in University Counselling Services, providing time-limited and long-term individual and group psychotherapy.

Since 2015 I have been employed as a Senior Lecturer at AUT.  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 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 creative expression through reflective practice consultations.  My PhD applied understandings from relational psychology to vocal / voice training in music higher education.