Meet the team behind the magic

Kia ora my name is Melissa – I am a registered occupational therapist. I believe in taking a tailored and holistic client-centred approach to the care I provide, fostering a safe and empowered environment for resilience to build.

Having worked in diverse settings supporting trauma recovery with adolescence to working in acute adult care and primary mental health care services, I am dedicated to showing up, providing consistency, and walking alongside the people I support.

Emma (Ngai/Kai Tahu) is a registered social worker specialising in Mental Health and Addictions. Emma holds a Bachelor of Social and Community work, alongside a postgraduate certificate in Mental Health and Addictions. She has worked in many settings over the course of her career, including Child and Youth Inpatient, Rehabilitation, Early Psychosis Intervention, Rural Adult Services, and Senior/Advanced Clinician roles.

With over a decade of mahi, Emma brings knowledge around the Mental Health system, skills and practice models, and various therapies used. She prides herself on her authenticity, being non-judgemental and having strong relational approaches to working with both whānau and tangata whai i te ora (person seeking wellness).

In this fast-paced world full of technology, it is easy to quickly loose connection with each other and our community. A community starts from the inside out, as does a person who is working to create a new future for themselves and often their family. My passion is people seeing their own potential and supporting them to grow into and achieve their dreams and goals.

My name is Toni-Anne and I have worked in the social services industry for almost 25 years. I have walked alongside countless individuals, teams, and businesses through their time of change. Whether it be to secure sustainable employment after being seriously injured or receiving a benefit for many years, to supporting businesses to improve their connection with their staff with the ultimate focus to improve their overall wellbeing, the principles are the same.

A Counsellor and Additions Practitioner, Shirleen owns her Private Practice, Empowera. Over her career, Shirleen has worked with our communities providing Clinical Coaching and Counselling support; while also providing Supervision and facilitating training sessions and presentations.

In 2023, Shirleen was recognised on the New Year Honors List, becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her service to Addiction Services and the South Asian community

Lauren has been a mental health occupational therapist since 2017 and has experience working in the community and acute hospital setting.

Lauren is passionate about providing sensory modulation as an intervention and delivers sensory modulation training regularly to other clinicians. She has completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Addictions through Auckland University of Technology

As a mental health advocate with lived experience, I specialize in using various therapeutic models for recovery including CBT, DBT, and other client centered approaches tailored to the client's needs. I like to work in partnership and provide tools to support my clients gain confidence to face life’s challenges and achieve better outcomes.

With over five years of experience working across family violence and mental health, Sara has worked as a clinician and advocate within her community.

Her background includes risk assessment, safety planning, and delivering psychoeducational programmes, providing relevant mental health skills and strategies for whānau.

Having worked in the Education sector for over 20 years, Stella has always been a strong advocate for the wellbeing of the staff, tamariki, and whānau in her community. She has helped to create bespoke bicultural learning opportunities and continues to develop programmes for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Taking a holistic approach, Stella believes that mauri ora contributes positively to our communities and workplaces allowing everyone to thrive.

Jade* is a holistic and bicultural community leader, bringing a rich perspective and holistic dedication to educational, social and community services.

A registered social worker with Master degrees in Applied Indigenous Practice and Teaching and Learning, she has extensive experience that spans primary and tertiary education, social work, and community practices.

She fosters respectful relationships with whānau, hapū, and iwi, always striving for Te Tiriti o Waitangi excellence, driving whānau transformation through education.