Meet our team of mental health and wellbeing specialists below.
Aleisha has been a clinical psychologist since 2010 having worked in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom before making New Zealand her home ten years ago. Aleisha has also worked in acute hospital settings, community mental health clinics, and private practice. Aleisha supports people affected by a variety of psychological difficulties including anxiety, eating disorders, mood disorders, and trauma.
Aleisha is available for therapy through ACC physical injury and sensitive claims, for first responders, and self-funded clients. She also provides screens of cognitive functioning for ACC concussion clients. Aleisha uses multiple therapy modalities depending on her clients’ needs. Her most commonly used therapies are acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR). Aleisha is available to see clients from our Napier and Hastings offices.
Melissa is a qualified clinical psychologist who has experience working and supporting people in mental health, correctional, forensic, and developmental disability areas. She’s trained in cognitive behaviour therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Melissa has a particular interest in assisting clients in working through traumatic experiences using EMDR as she finds being alongside clients as they do such important work to be especially rewarding. Melissa uses EMDR with clients who are grieving the loss of a loved one, as this approach seems to be very useful in softening the distressing memories associated with the loss and enabling clients to move through the mourning process.
Melissa enjoys using an ACT approach with clients who have anxiety or depression to assist them in identifying and working towards meaningful and valued lives. Melissa works mainly with adults, but does also work with adolescents, finding it particularly rewarding to be able to support young people in navigating important life transitions as they begin to identify what they value most, and want their lives to be about.
Melissa works with adults and adolescents and is based in our Napier and Hastings offices.
Kym provides counselling and psychotherapy for people over the age of 16 years who have or are experiencing, trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions and grief and other life challenges. Kym also works with people accessing PHO counselling through their doctors and EAP counselling via their workplaces. Kym works from a collaborative, holistic approach that recognises the value that mind, body, spirit, emotions and whānau have on our overall wellbeing. She also provides Supervision toother professional – individual and group.
Kym works from a variety of evidence-based modalities such as Trauma Focussed-CBT, Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Hakomi (Body Somatic psychotherapy), along with incorporating creative approaches in her therapy.
Kym works from our offices in Napier and Hastings.
Matt is a full member of NZAC and EMDRNZ and his practice includes mindfulness, EMDR, CBT, and narrative approaches.
He has worked with Red Cross Refugee Trauma Recovery, supporting refugees who have experienced persecution, war, and torture.
At the NZ Aids Foundation, Matt worked with client issues including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, sexual identity, gender identity, sexual health, and living with an HIV diagnosis.
He volunteered at Pomare Union Health Hutt Valley, and in this role worked with client issues including, depression, anxiety, insomnia, sexual trauma, and refugee experience.
Matt also worked as an intern at Wesley Inner City Counselling Service, with client issues including depression, anxiety, familial violence, and sexual trauma and was also an intern at the Community Alcohol and Drug Service, and Opiate Treatment Service CCDHB.
Matt works with adults and adolescents and is based in our Napier and Hastings offices.
Juanita gained her registration as a clinical psychologist in 1998. She spent 22 years working for residential and hospital based rehabilitation services as part of a MDT providing services to individuals with traumatic brain injury and other complex health conditions. Her work in these settings included undertaking neuropsychological assessment, providing behavioural support services, pain management and specific therapy for individuals and their families.
Since moving to Hawkes Bay in 2010, Juanita has provided community based psychological therapy services. She completed further training in advanced therapy approaches for individuals with single incident trauma, sexual abuse and complex trauma and is an accredited EMDR clinician.
Juanita has expertise and interest in a number of areas including trauma, brain injury rehabilitation, adjustment to illness and disability and complex trauma. She uses a range of evidence based therapy techniques including ACT, CBT and EMDR.
Juanita works with adults ana adolescents and is based in the Napier and Hastings offices.
Hannah completed her training and registered as a clinical psychologist in 2021, she completed her internship prior to this, working four days a week with children, adolescents, and families in a public setting. Over the past few years, Hannah has enjoyed experiencing working with adults and teens for individual therapy. Hannah also completes thorough assessments that involve gathering information from multiple sources and in multiple formats. Hannah continues to complete attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability assessments with young people.
Hannah has a passion for helping clients understand why difficulties have arisen and how they are being maintained. This understanding is the foundation of individualised interventions that have clear rationales. The kinds of interventions Hannah primarily uses include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Skills, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), she is also trained in the trauma informed versions ACT and CBT. Hannah works with individuals who are struggling with low mood, anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, difficulties with relationships and communication, workplace issues, trauma, and those recovering from injury.
Hannah works from the Napier and Hastings Offices.
Melissa moved to Aoteroa in 2020 from Cape Town, South Africa. She obtained a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology after working for 8 years in a corporate setting doing change management and training development and delivery. She has also done further studies in couple therapy working with adolescents and long and short term psychoanalytic/psychodynamic individual therapy. Since moving to New Zealand, she has trained in EMDR and professional supervision.
With over 20 years previously in private practice working across all ages she brings experience in working with diversity and a broad range of life/ work stressor. She understands trauma and has worked extensively supporting trauma recovery and the impact of exposure to vicarious trauma.
Melissa offers a thoughtful, caring, confidential space to explore both life and work stressors and practical ways to manage those effectively. She knows that asking for support is about investing in yourself so that all who know can benefit both at home and at work.
Nicole gained a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and worked in clinical and community social work for nine years before earning her second Masters in 2008 and Doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) in 2010.
For the last 15 years, Nicole has integrated trauma-informed systems work with individual psychotherapy theory to tailor therapy to meet your needs. She might be a good match for you if you would like to explore Dialectical Behaviour (DBT) techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, CBT, and Narrative style.
Nicole’s areas of expertise include: Neuropsychological Assessment, Trauma, Infertility and Assisted reproduction, Gender, including services prior to commencing gender affirming treatment, Sexuality, Couples therapy, ENM and Poly dynamics, and mood disorders. If you wonder whether Nicole might be a good therapist for you, please call to discuss and ask questions. She is registered with ACC for ISSC and Psych Services.
Danielle is a clinical psychologist based in Wellington. Danielle gained her Masters in Science majoring in Psychology before completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology at Victoria University. Danielle is a member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists.
Danielle prides herself on building warm and trusting relationships with her clients. Her style aims at establishing a safe and non-judgemental environment in which clients can feel heard and supported. Danielle enjoys working with a range of presenting issues and tries to craft a tailored therapeutic approach for each client she sees. She completes assessments for neurodevelopmental difficulties such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability. She also provides assessments and interventions for individuals with mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and trauma related disorders. Danielle uses evidence-based modalities in her practice, predominantly employing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) when working with clients.
Danielle is passionate about providing thorough psychological assessments that serve to help clients understand how their current difficulties have developed, and how they are being maintained. These assessments serve as the cornerstone for personalized interventions with clear rationales.
Sophie Hedley (she/they) is a clinical psychologist with a background in cognitive psychology. She completed her training in 2020 and has since worked primarily in adult mental health and addiction. Sophie specializes in evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapies to support individuals facing a wide range of mental health challenges. She also has a strong interest in neuropsychological assessments for both young people and adults.
Beyond her clinical work, Sophie is passionate about teaching and research. Her PhD thesis at Victoria University explored how the brain contributes to creativity. She has also supervised clinicians completing the University of Otago’s Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Sophie is dedicated to supporting diverse communities, with a particular focus on the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. She upholds the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensures her practice is culturally responsive and inclusive. She values the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds and making therapy accessible to all.
From 2023 to 2024, Sophie travelled the world, deepening her understanding of different cultures and approaches to well-being. She now brings this enriched perspective to her current role.
Molly is a clinical psychologist who has previously worked with children, adolescents and young adults in a public setting. Since starting at Explore in March 2024, Molly has worked primarily with adults for short-term individual therapy.
Molly works across multiple areas, including conducting assessments for ADHD and intellectual disability, as well as providing assessments and therapy for mental health challenges, such as issues with low mood and anxiety. She works part-time into the Piki service, offering psychological support to those aged 18-25 years of age in the Wellington region.
Molly is primarily trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and draws from other modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She places importance on developing an understanding of what might have precipitated a person’s mental health challenges and what the current maintaining factors are so that intervention is targeted and specific to the person. This process is always collaborative and led by the person and their experiences.
Molly works from the Wellington office.
Romesha is a third-year Clinical Psychology student at Victoria University of Wellington, currently completing her clinical psychology internship training. She has a strong theoretical foundation in psychological disorders across children, adolescents, and adults, complemented by hands-on experience in psychological assessments, formulation, and evidence-based interventions.
Romesha has worked in clinical settings, providing psychological assessments and interventions for a range of mental health presentations, including neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, mood disorders, and anxiety-related difficulties. She has experience conducting thorough psychological assessments, clinical interviews, risk assessments, and administering psychometric testing.
Romesha primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in her treatment approach and is passionate about fostering strong, trusting therapeutic relationships. She is committed to providing culturally responsive, evidence-based psychological care and strives to create a supportive and empowering therapeutic environment for her clients.
For more information, please contact the Psychology & Wellbeing team, call: (06) 835 6631 or email [email protected]