WellART

Registered Art Therapist (MA AThR), Member ANZACATA

Ellyn Rose has been fortunate to work therapeutically with diverse populations and sectors nationally and internationally, including; palliative care, hospice/bereavement care, children’s groups, multiple sclerosis, women’s empowerment groups, private psychiatric wards, community mental health and through private practice. Working within a tangata-centred and Te Whare Tapa Wha framework, Ellyn Rose tailors her therapy to suit the individual needs of each unique client, in a group or individual setting. Ellyn Rose is currently working within tertiary education providing wellbeing and skill-building opportunities for tauira and kaimahi, as well as in Private Practice with ACC Registration.

Ellyn Rose’s areas of specialty are:
- Trauma & Abuse
- End of Life & Bereavement Care
- Rainbow Empowerment & Body Dysmorphia
- Anxiety & Coping Mechanisms
- Sensory Engagement & Emotion Regulation
- Self-Care & Skill-Building

Art therapy looks different for everyone and no two sessions are alike. The process of engaging with art materials can provide endless opportunities, including safe space to work through difficult emotions, share-stories, validate experiences, process grief or trauma, explore parts of your identity or simply navigate creative coping mechanisms.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa | Massey University, Pōneke | Wellington, Private Practice | Aurora Collective , Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai| Hutt Central

CONTACT DETAILS: [email protected]

Registered Arts Therapist (ANZACATA; ACC)
Educational Psychologist (NZPB; NZPS)
EMDR practitioner

I am currently working with children and adults from a range of backgrounds and ages who may be experiencing anxiety, worry, loss, have experienced trauma or who struggle to control their anger. I have a background in education and I have particular experience working with young people with special needs. As an Art Therapist, I have worked in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, for a Youth Health Service and Special Education, with Sensitive Claims clients for ACC and for an NGO.

Using art as a counselling medium can be very helpful for people who feel unable to talk much about their experience. It is also an effective way of gaining insight into thoughts, feelings and experiences that lie at the heart of unhappiness. Art therapy can help in developing emotional regulation and strengthening a sense of identity, increasing confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

I am a qualified EMDR practitioner and I use EMDR extensively with clients who have trauma to resolve. It blends well with Art Therapy for clients who respond well to a less verbal, more visual, creative experience. I am also a sandplay practitioner and use this, alongside play and EMDR when working with children who have experienced trauma.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: I work in private practice in the centre of Wellington.

CONTACT: [email protected]

BSc, MEd, Dip Psych, MAAT, AThR, Provisional Member NZAC, Member ANZACATA

Pat is a registered arts therapist and counsellor with professional membership of the Australian New Zealand and Asian Association of Creative Arts Therapies (ANZACATA) and the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC, Provisional). Combining a passion for art-making with supporting people’s mental health, she qualified with a master’s degree in Arts Therapy from Whitecliffe College Auckland in 2015. She is an accredited ACC counsellor working with sensitive claims clients (sexual trauma). She currently combines this work with supporting young people in an Intermediate school. She facilitates well-being workshops in community education.

Over the past few years, she has gained clinical experience in diverse settings including acute mental health, hospice, residential care homes and schools. She has also supported newly-arrived migrants and refugees in therapeutic art-making groups.

She is a client-centred practitioner who integrates arts therapy and counselling skills with other evidence-based approaches, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Positive Psychology. Within a safe and supportive environment, she aims to help people to process difficult experiences and increase self-awareness while finding new perspectives, developing emotional strength, increased resiliency and improved overall well-being.

CONTACT: 027 885 9072, [email protected]

Registered Art Therapist (AThR),, Professional Member of Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association –ANZACATA

I have been a registered Art Therapist in NZ since 2016.
At the moment, I don’t have capacity for new referrals.
I currently work at Whakamātūtū/ Depression Recovery Centre in Wellington and at Te Whare Ahuru/ Acute Inpatient Unit / MHAIDS.
https://www.whakamatutu.org.nz/
https://www.mhaids.health.nz/our-services/acute-inpatient-services-youth-and-adult/tewhare-ahuru-acute-inpatient-unit/

Professional Member New Zealand Association of Counsellors (MNZAC), Registered Art Therapist (AThR), Professional Member Australia New Zealand Asia Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA).

Serena has a Masters degree in Art Therapy (including counselling papers) from La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia. Prior to her Masters, Serena trained and worked as a paediatric oncology nurse.

Serena has worked in Art Therapist and Counselling roles at Skylight, Cancer Society and her current workplace Te Omanga Hospice. Serena feels privileged to be able to walk alongside patients and their whānau (including children) who are grieving and provide support including in bereavement. Serena finds Art Therapy is particularly therapeutic for children who don’t always have ‘the words’ to explain their feelings.

Serena does not currently work in private practice but is available to share her knowledge about support for people of all ages who are grieving.

CONTACT: 027 353 4120, [email protected], www.serenastace.nz

BA(Theatre and Film), MAAT (Clinical; Hons), AThR, Member ANZACATA

Kia Ora, I completed my master’s in arts therapy at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design in 2017. Before qualifying as a therapist, I had been using the arts in youth work and chaplaincy roles for over 10 years including: high school and university chaplaincy, leadership in residential young adult communities in NZ and UK,in youth development for PN City Council, theatre in education in the UK and teaching arts in Thailand to refugee children. The placements I held during my master’s study were; working with adolescents and senior citizens with special needs, I also worked in a mainstream primary school with children aged 5 to 12 presenting with grief and anxiety, worked in the acute mental health in-patient unit at Wellington Hospital, Te Whare O Matairangi, and counselling adults at Catholic social services.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: private practice

CONTACT: [email protected]

Reg Art Therapist and Supervisor, Member ANZACATA.

Art therapy provides an effective and playful gateway to our inner wisdom. I love supporting adults to reclaim their emotional and mental health through creative expression and self-discovery. I combine the use of art with my solid foundation in psychotherapy, and draw on a diverse range of counselling approaches tailored to individual needs. 

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: private practice

CONTACT: 021 0227 2013, www.heartsoultherapies.com

Member ANZACATA, Arts Therapist/ Kaiwhakaora Toi, ACC Registered, (BSocSci, Maj Psych/ MA ATh ANZACATA)

I work with children and adults using Art therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Interactive Drawing Technique (IDT) with a parts approach, talk therapy, somatic methods, mindfulness and sand tray. I find these modalities, within a supportive therapeutic relationship, help people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, grief and loss, attachment and relationship struggles and who need to recover from traumatic experiences.

I create a safe, compassionate and accepting therapeutic relationship with an attachment understanding and work from the belief that having authentic and meaningful relationships, including with yourself, is important for good mental health.

I have been an art therapist for over 25 years. Using art as a way of working with difficulty can be very helpful for people who feel stuck or blocked and who need a concrete way of externalising their issues to help them to shift into a healthier place. Art can support people to be playful and playfulness supports trauma recovery. It can help access body and unconscious knowledge offering a different perspective and outlook. It supports people to actively work on their process and life. It is not important or necessary to have artistic skills. I use EMDR alongside art therapy, IDT and DDP and Sand tray with clients who have trauma to resolve as I find these blend well and allow me to respond to where clients need to be met in a client centred and supportive way.

Background
I have a BSocSoc from the University of Waikato where I majored in Psychology. I studied Art Therapy in London and gained a Masters in Art Therapy from Edith Cowen University, Perth, Australia (before art therapy was able to be studied in NZ). I initially worked in the Special needs area and then with teenagers at Starship Hospital. I worked at Te Omanga Hospice with patients and family members largely with children whose parent was ill. When my children were young, I worked privately with contracts with Oranga Tamariki, in schools, CREDS, at the Lower Hutt Women’s Centre and ran groups. I later worked for NGO WellStop as a Senior therapist working with children and young people who had harmful sexual behaviour. I now work 3 days a week at Whakamatutu which is a new centre to support adults recover from depression.

I have a special fondness in supporting neurodiverse people and parents raising neurodiverse children. I have particular interest in working with complex developmental trauma, attachment issues and those who have ADHD or ADHD symptoms. I have worked for Mental Health Services, with Sensitive Claims clients for ACC, for Te Omanga Hospice and for two NGOs.

E. [email protected]

Member of ANZACATA, Full Registration with the New Zealand Teachers Council, Associate Member of EMDRNZ

I earned a Master's degree in Arts Therapy (Clinical) from Whitecliffe College of Art and Design in 2017 and PGDIP in Education and Counselling in 2020 from Massey University. My training placements encompassed of Mash TRUST, Central Region Eating Disorder Service (CREDS), Child, Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and Hikitia Te Wairua (National and Regional Intellectual Disability Secure Services).

With substantial teaching experience, I possess expertise in assisting young people navigating health, mental health, and behavioral challenges affecting their engagement, family dynamics, social interactions, and school attendance. Additionally, I facilitate arts-based collaborative peer support sessions aimed at helping teachers cultivate and advocate for self-care practices to manage occupational stress.

I integrate Arts Therapy and gentle movement in my practice, providing holistic support for exploring and releasing the mind, body, emotions, and soul. Beginning in early 2025, I will also offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) alongside art therapy for adolescents and adults.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: as a school counsellor / arts therapist at Wellington College.
Not taking any new clients until 2025.
E. [email protected]

BA (Psychology), MAAT Hons (Clinical) AThR, Member ANZACATA, ACC Reg

I have been offering therapeutic support services in private practice as an arts therapist for 5 years. My practice provides services utilising the expressive arts, mindfulness and somatic approaches. I support clients by enhancing a sense of wellbeing, building resilience, self-compassion and developing resources to thrive. This incorporates trauma-informed practices and offers clients resources to safely process their lived experience in a fully set up art studio space. Currently, I am offering therapeutic services to individuals over 19 years of age experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma and those processing life transitions. My therapeutic approach is client-centred, utilises psychotherapeutic techniques combined with meaning making creative practices. My practice is LGBTQIA + friendly.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: Artisan Arts Therapy in Private Practice in Miramar, Wellington as a provider for ACC Sensitive Claims and referrals. Please note my practice is currently full.

CONTACT: 027 572 2165 or email [email protected]

PGDip(Tchg), MAAT(Clin)(Hons), AThR, Member ANZACATA

I am passionate about using the arts to support people to explore issues, overcome barriers and increase resilience. My clients and I work creatively, using a variety of arts modalities (including visual arts, dance/movement, drama and writing) within a strong therapeutic alliance to support the processes of meaning-making and change. I have experience working with a wide range of people who have found arts therapy useful for self-development, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, interpersonal struggles, working through traumatic experiences and navigating grief, loss and change. I have also spent four years supporting survivors of sexual violence. This area remains a strong interest of mine, particularly helping people to re-establish a sense of safety in their bodies through arts practices. I am a registered therapist for clients with ACC sensitive claims.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: I currently offer individual sessions for adults and adolescents from my private practice in Tawa, and warmly invite you to contact me to discuss how we might work together.

CONTACT: 020 4196 5093, www.activeartstherapy.com

I am an insatiable creative and believe strongly that creativity is a necessary part of balanced wellbeing. My approach is intuitive and invitational, letting us find the most easeful way for working with what concerns you. I invite you to try many different forms of creativity including visual arts, movement, writing, music and speech. I am trauma informed and have trained in the Felt Sense Polyvagal Method for treatment of trauma and addiction. I also have experience in Focusing Oriented Arts Therapy (FOAT), Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy, and Level 2 training in Sand Tray and Symbol Work. Mindfulness and compassion inform everything I do and I am a certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher. I am also certified in the Mandala Assessment and Research Instrument (MARI). My practice is LGBTQIA+ friendly and I work with youth and adults 18+.

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING CLIENTS AT: The Dunes Practice in Lyall Bay. Please contact [email protected] to book an appointment.
CONTACT: Mara at [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.maraelwood.com

Registered Clinical Arts Therapist (ANZACATA), ACC Registered

Salaam. I have a Masters in Arts Therapy from Whitecliffe college and a Bachelor of Fine Arts(hons) from Massey University. I have spent most of my adult life working as an artist and learning the deep healing potential art and creativity can provide. I have worked in a high school counselling service, university, retirement village and non-for-profit organisations as part of my placement requirements. The last year I have been working as an arts therapist in the mental health sector with a focus on developing an arts therapy role within an established organisation. I also have experience in the disability sector. I mostly work with visual art and the imagination yet I will encourage other modalities including nature-based to embody the experience. I am interested in the role of imagination as a tool to make sense of our internal realms and shift states. I am passionate about connecting individuals with their souls essence as a way to create empowerment and to find their own internal guidance systems. I use a client-led approach yet I will offer my own guidance and intuition when I feel it is appropriate.

CONTACT: [email protected], www.negindastgheib.com

Registered Clinical Arts Therapist (ANZACATA) ACC Registered

Before graduating as an Arts Therapist in 2021, my background was in teaching. I have worked in a high school counselling service and Family Works. My current work involves working for ACC in sensitive claims and for Skylight Trust.

I enjoy working with children, teens and adults and have experience with trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief.

I work in a client-centred way, and will respond to what arises in the moment from what a client brings and wants to work on. I view the client as the expert in their life and am guided by their wisdom and personal preferences. I may offer prompts and suggestions as a starting point and to help anchor the client in a place where they can express what they want to explore. I am also comfortable talking instead if that is the preference.

The architecture of a session may involve some introductory talking, following by a warm-up activity, then the main arts-based exercise. Usually, a session ends with some harvesting of what was experienced, with possible linkages made to what was discussed at the start of the session and/or the client’s goals.

I also like to work with mindfulness-based practices that assist clients to access their body-based, somatic wisdom. I hold a holistic view of the world that recognises both seen and unseen dimensions of being.

CONTACT: M. 021 129 0701 or [email protected]

MA Art Psychotherapy, BA Fine Art, Member ANZACATA

I worked in the Disability sector in the UK before completing my Art Psychotherapy Masters at the University of South Wales. My placement experience included supporting patients at an acute inpatient unit, a community mental health team and a secure forensic unit. Subsequently I worked in a mental health crisis team providing acute assessment and short-term intervention, before moving to New Zealand and joining the Student Counselling team at Victoria University of Wellington, where I offer Art Therapy, assessment and case coordination for students with complex needs.

I find supporting students at this age and stage deeply rewarding. I am constantly amazed by the creativity and resilience of the people I work with and am always learning from my clients. I offer a safe and engaging space for my clients to express and explore their experiences, feelings, identity and values, in order to help them develop insight, resilience, foster self-esteem and facilitate change, through the process of artmaking and reflection within a therapeutic relationship.

I added Interactive Drawing Therapy to my practice since coming to New Zealand which provides a structured way for clients to connect with and build on their self-awareness, strengths, internal resources, and inner wisdom.

Registered Arts Therapist, AThR, MACAT (Clinical) Hons, BFA, Member ANZACATA

Kia Ora, I’m a registered creative arts therapist currently working in Pōneke Wellington.

I believe in the arts ability to heal and enable us to express ourselves where other outlets might fall short. The creative arts therapies encourage self-expression and foster exploration of our awareness, encourage emotional growth, and enhance relationships with ourselves and others.

My approach is open and interactive. I bring my curiosity, honesty, and humanity to the therapeutic relationship. Therapy sessions are a collaboration between the client and myself. Together we can explore where you are and the difficulties that you may be experiencing.

Our sessions are centred around you and how you feel comfortable communicating. If you’re more comfortable with using talk therapy that’s a place we can start and then begin to explore creative outlets together. For others more sensory and somatic tools may feel more comfortable. Or you may embrace art making in our sessions to explore and become open to new understandings. There’s no art experience needed; everyone has the ability to express themselves in a creative way. Differing from traditional arts-making, in arts therapy the focus is more on the process of creating and meaning-making, rather than on the final product. I work in a supportive and open way to encourage clients to express themselves authentically while working within their boundaries and in a way that feels safe and comfortable.

When seeking a therapist it’s important to find someone that can put you at ease and that you feel you can trust. I’m happy to discuss this with you, whether it feels like the right fit and answer any questions you might have.
Background and Experience

I have most recently been working as a tutor and therapist at a community art studio with clients who have lived experience of mental illness and/ or disability. I’ve also been providing group and private arts therapy sessions to young people through multiple mental health services in Pōneke Wellington. I have over ten years’ experience working in mental health, the justice system, domestic violence, youth community programmes, residential care, respite and within crisis services in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Areas of Special Interest
Anxiety, Depression , Mental Health, Grief and Loss, Exploring/ Affirming Gender, Family and relationships, Identity, Sense of self/ purpose, Trauma and PTSD

Currently taking private clients. Contract work in the community. ACC registered.

E. [email protected]

BSc, Trans. Cert Psychology, Dip. Teaching, MComms, MAAT (Clinical), AThR

Marica offers services online to individuals, groups, and workplace teams. She creates a supportive environment where clients can explore aspects of their well-being. Marica uses a variety of creative arts techniques with a special focus on mindful art practices and photography so clients can explore emotions and gain a deeper connection to their inner wisdom. Sessions are tailored to meet each client's unique needs, fostering self-awareness, resilience, and personal transformation.

Currently Working at: Private Practice, Marica Ševelj Well-Being

Contact: [email protected] 027 268 3331
Website: maricasevelj.com

Provisional Member ANZACATA, BA (Psychology), MAAT (Clin) (Hons)

I am a newly graduated provisionally registered clinical creative arts therapist based in Wellington. I have completed recent placements with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Wellington Central providing one on one arts therapy to young people in crisis as well as group arts therapy sessions for young people, Kapiti Women’s Centre cofacilitating an arts therapy group, Enliven retirement home working with older adults with dementia and mobility issues and Whitecliffe University providing one on one creative arts therapy to students.

CURRENTLY WORKING AT: The Lower Hutt Women’s Centre providing one to one creative arts therapy sessions to Centre users as well as facilitating groups. I’m currently looking to take on contract work with organisations in the community as well as private one on one clients.
CONTACT: [email protected]

Member of the Australian, NZ & Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA). Prior Member NZAC (NZ Association of Counsellors)

Judy has 30 years of experience within mental health, private, tertiary and Maori settings working with adults, adolescents, children and families. She works in a collaborative way, incorporating creativity to help people adapt to challenges, achieve their goals and improve their well-being. Judy now works solely in private practice on the Kapiti Coast.

Judy’s Special Expertise
Judy works effectively with a wide range of individuals and issues. She has extensive experience in both physical and mental health care and adapts her approach to meet individual client needs and issues.

Arts Therapy Services
All of us face challenges in life at some time. Whether it’s an unexpected event or circumstance that confronts us, loss or grief experiences, or old habits and behaviors that we want to change. We all struggle at times with uncomfortable feelings, the complexity of life or knowing we need to make change to improve our wellbeing. Sometimes we may even struggle to know what the ‘problem’ is let alone find solutions. We all have resources inside of us and around us that help us navigate our way. However sometimes resources aren’t quite enough, and we become stuck or overwhelmed in trying to manage those challenges. Arts therapy can help us to ‘step out of the everyday’ and take a fresh look at how we might adapt, achieve our goals, manage life’s challenges and improve our well-being.

Judy’s Therapeutic Philosophy
Judy’s approach is to work collaboratively with you, adapting her style and way of working to suit each individual and their purposes. From a client centered approach Judy draws from counselling skills, expressive arts, solutions focused and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to work effectively with a wide range of individuals and issues.

Her goal is to be alongside you in ways that help you to identify and access the many resources you have in new ways. Her focus is to support clients to understand and find creative solutions to life’s challenges and to grow through the challenges into a greater place of wellbeing.

About Judy
After a career in Nursing Judy studied Counselling. Then in 2018 she completed a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy. Over the past 30 years she has worked with adults, children, adolescents, individuals and families within mental health services, tertiary education, health, Maori and private practice settings.

Judy has a wide range of interests and is active in her community. She enjoys an active and creative lifestyle and particularly enjoys time with family and friends.

Supervision Services
Judy is available to provide supervision for arts therapists, counsellors and other health providers. She has an extensive work history in a wide range of health and mental health care and has completed post graduate supervision training.

M. 021 041 6242
W. http://www.creativesolutions.nz/