About us

Clinical Psychologists are experts in assessing mental health difficulties, understanding how the challenge or challenges developed, and applying reliable and scientifically supported treatment plans that are tailored to each individual.

None of us is perfect, and neither is life. That means it is completely normal to get stuck in an unhelpful pattern, to feel burdened by emotion, or to not know how to fix some problems.

At Resilience Psychology, our Psychologists across Auckland and Wellington understand that seeking support to enhance your wellbeing can feel overwhelming. We want to break the stigma which creates a barrier for many people to reach out. Building our mental and emotional resilience should be seen as normal as going to the gym or accessing medical services.

That is why we aim to provide a safe, non-judgemental space that allows you to discuss your difficulties at your own pace, whatever their size. We aim to work alongside you, whether short-term or long-term and equip you with skills for life.

We have a range of clinicians of various cultural backgrounds (genders, ages, sexualities, etc) with a breadth of clinical experience and knowledge. Scroll down to read more about each of our wonderful staff members.

Introducing

Dr Kirsten Wooff

Kirsten has experience with a large range of clients and their challenges. She is adept in managing all levels of psychological challenges, including more complex clinical presentations and circumstances, getting to understand the core issues and presenting straightforward information and strategies to ensure lasting change. Areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, stress, emotional regulation, parenting, perfectionism, lifestyle imbalance, and self-esteem. She works with the client, using their strengths, to help them live a happier, more satisfying life.

Kirsten is committed to ensuring her clients care is holistic, including their family, school, or medical team when necessary. She is also is an experienced group facilitator and has run groups for adolescents, young adults, and adults.

Kirsten believes strongly in being non-judgemental, offers kindness and is committed to her clients’ well-being, enjoying working alongside them to help them achieve positive change. She utilises a range of therapy approaches including CBT, ACT, positive psychology, schema therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness. She is ACC registered and an accredited practitioner in EMDR.

Available Monday to Wednesday.

Dr Kirsten

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (Psychology), University of Canterbury
Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours (Psychology), University of Canterbury
Master of Science (with distinction), University of Canterbury
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (with distinction), University of Canterbury
Doctorate in Philosophy (Psychology), University of Canterbury

Professional Memberships

Registered with the NZ Psychologists Board (Clinical Scope)
Member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists
ACC Registered
Accredited practitioner in EMDR - EMDRNZ Association

Dr Jeanne Van Wyk

Jeanne has experience working with people of different ages and cultural backgrounds in a variety of mental health settings. She has worked with adults and young adults who are experiencing a wide range of difficulties. Some if these challenges include feeling depressed, anxious, easily overwhelmed, angry, and disconnected from others. Jeanne is also skilled at supporting people who have experienced trauma and are having difficulty coping with and making sense of their traumatic experiences.

Jeanne uses a range of therapeutic modalities to support her clients to achieve their therapy goals. These include EMDR, Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Dialectical Based Therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.

Jeanne is a non-judgmental, warm, and highly empathic clinician. Her therapeutic approach is holistic, client-centered, and strength-based. She works collaboratively with her clients to create a supportive space where meaningful change can occur. Jeanne is able to offer online therapy sessions.

Available Tuesday to Friday.

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (Psychology), University of Auckland
Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Education), University of Auckland
Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours (Psychology), University of Auckland
Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Auckland

Professional Memberships

Registered with the NZ Psychologists Board (Clinical Scope)
Member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists
ACC Registered

Colette Hamman

Colette is a registered Clinical Psychologist who has worked in a variety of settings in New Zealand and South Africa. Her research and clinical experience allowed her the opportunity to work with people from various age groups and diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

She appreciates that people’s experiences are unique and complex. As such, she offers an integrative and person-centred treatment approach. Her training includes modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She finds it particularly helpful to also focus on the interpersonal process within therapy.

Colette believes in developing authentic connections where she shows her humanness. Her style is warm, transparent and attentive in order to facilitate a safe and inclusive space for the people she works with.

Colette is fluent in Afrikaans and English.

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (BSc) Human Life Sciences with Psychology, Stellenbosch University
Bachelor of Science Honours (Hons) Psychology, Stellenbosch University
Master of Science (MSc) Psychology, Stellenbosch University
Master of Arts (MA) Clinical Psychology, Rhodes University

Professional Memberships

Registered with New Zealand Psychologists Board (Clinical Scope)
Member of New Zealand Psychological Society
Member of Health Professions Council of South Africa (Clinical Psychologist in Independent Practice)

Dr Anna Walters

Anna is a registered clinical psychologist with experience working in a range of areas including mental health and university settings. She has worked with children, adolescents and adults both individually in therapy as well as facilitating groups.

Anna has a warm, respectful and empathic approach to therapy. She believes in working compassionately and collaboratively with clients to enable them to make meaningful life changes and reach their potential. Her areas of expertise include low mood and depression, anxiety and worry, difficulties with intense emotions, fatigue and stress.

Anna’s practice is informed by a range of evidence-based therapies which she tailors to each client to help them understand and make sense of their experiences and develop psychological skills. She has undertaken specialised training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

She has a strong interest in mindfulness and its effects on psychological health and is committed to her own mindfulness practice to strengthen her understanding.

Available Tuesday and Wednesday.

Professional Qualifications

Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Auckland
Bachelor of Health Science with First Class Honours (Psychology), Massey University
Bachelor of Health Science (Psychology), Auckland University of Technology

Professional Memberships

Registered with the NZ Psychologists Board (Clinical Scope)
Member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists

Dr Anoosh Franklin

Anoosh is a registered Clinical Psychologist who has a client-centred, collaborative and flexible therapeutic approach. She values bringing warmth, genuineness and compassion to her therapeutic style. Anoosh enjoys helping clients pursue more fulfilling lives through providing a safe environment for them to make sense of their own experiences and patterns.

Anoosh has clinical experience working primarily with adults in the public sector. She is trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Anoosh tailors and integrates these therapeutic models when supporting clients with their unique needs and goals. Therapy can be short-term or long-term, and can focus on developing insight and understanding as well as practical skills.

Anoosh has experience working with a wide range of presentations including anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, relationship problems, stress and adjustment, trauma and attachment, self-esteem, cultural and identity issues. Anoosh is particularly passionate about working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and has extensive clinical and research experience in this area. Currently, Anoosh is pursuing further training in EMDR and the treatment of depression and anxiety in clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Available Thursday and Friday.

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Sociology), University of Auckland
Bachelor of Arts Honours with First Class Honours (Psychology), University of Auckland
Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Auckland

Professional Memberships

Registered with the NZ Psychologists Board (Clinical Scope)
Member of the New Zealand College Psychological Society

Dr Laurel McArthur

Laurel is a registered clinical psychologist and has experience working with individuals and groups across the adult life span.

She has a warm, client-centred approach and enjoys working collaboratively to help clients build a meaningful life in times of stress and struggle. She has experience working with adjustment following physical health issues including acquired brain injury, relationship difficulties, mental health issues and questions around gender and sexual identity. She has a particular interest in working with individuals who’s challenges relate to neurodivergence such as autism, attention deficit disorders (ADHD) or acquired brain injuries like fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), stroke, encephalitis, aneurysm and traumatic brain injuries.

Laurel uses a range of therapy approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) along with behavioural skills practice where relevant.

Available weekday mornings on Mondays and Thursdays

Postgraduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology, Massey University
Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology), Massey University
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Education), Massey University

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Science, University of Auckland
Bachelor of Science Honours (with first class honours) in Psychology, University of Auckland
Doctor of Clinical Psychology, University of Auckland

Professional Memberships

Registered with the NZ Psychologist's Board (Clinical scope)
Member of NZ Psychological Society
Member of Association for Contextual Behavioural Science

Jakov Burić

Jakov is a registered clinical psychologist and has experience working with a range of adult clients and their difficulties. His approach is humanistic and relational, aimed at developing autonomy. Autonomy involves being aware, spontaneous and having the capacity for intimacy or being our authentic selves. He is compassionate, empathetic and non-judgmental in his work creating a safe place for clients to explore themselves. While part of his work focuses on managing present difficulties clients have, he is also looking beyond diagnosis at underlying causes.

Jakov is originally trained in Transactional Analysis, a theory of human personality and behaviour. Its focus is on both unconscious dynamic factors influencing our behaviour and on inner dialogues between different parts of our psyche that can be unhelpful at times. One of the basic tenets of TA is that people are okay and capable to change and grow and Jakov is here to facilitate that process.

He is also trained in EMDR, Schema therapy and is highly influenced by psychodynamic theory and approach in his work.

He is available Tuesdays from 5 to 8 PM. Apart from English, he speaks Croatian.

Available Tuesdays.

Postgraduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology, Massey University
Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology), Massey University
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Education), Massey University

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) University of Zadar, Croatia
Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) University of Rijeka, Croatia

Professional Memberships

Registered Psychologist with New Zealand Psychologists Board (Clinical Scope)
Member of the New Zealand Psychological Society

Natasha Amarasekara

Natasha is a warm, collaborative, client-centred clinical psychologist who works with both adolescents and adults. She works in a strengths-based manner instilling people with the tools and understandings needed to work through any difficulties to maximise well-being. Natasha strongly values the therapeutic alliance between herself and her clients. Her style is non-judgmental, empathetic, attentive, and authentic, aiming to create a safe and inclusive space in therapy. She holds hope during times of difficulty and believes everyone is capable of reaching their personal recovery goals.

Natasha has worked clinically with a wide range of people at different ages, stages, and cultural backgrounds across mental health, addictions, and forensic settings. She is particularly passionate about working with people who have a challenging relationship with food, eating, body image, and/or exercise. Other areas of interest include depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, stress and adjustment, sleep difficulties, addiction, attachment, and cultural identity.

Natasha’s therapeutic approach is underpinned by evidence-based practice tailored to the individual. While primarily trained within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), she also draws on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Mindfulness, where appropriate.

Professional Qualifications

Registered Clinical Psychologist
(Awaiting graduation) Doctorate of Clinical Psychology, Massey University
Master of Science with Distinction in Psychology, University of Otago
Bachelor of Science with Honours, First Class in Psychology, University of Otago
Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience

Professional Memberships

Registered Clinical Psychologist (NZ Psychologists Board, Clinical Scope)
Member of New Zealand Psychological Society
Member of New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists

Zahra Howell

Zahra is a New Zealand registered counselling psychologist, who has significant experience working with people from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. She provides assessment and therapy for individuals dealing with a wide range of challenges and concerns such as feeling low/depressed, self-esteem/self-confidence difficulties, stress or burnout, anxiety, fear and worry, trauma, difficulties with relationships, managing emotions, sleep issues, life transitions and adjustments and other difficulties.

Zahra believes everyone is unique and she tailors the way she works to each client and their specific needs and situations. Her aim is to help improve client’s awareness, insight, skills and knowledge to manage their challenges and difficult thoughts and feelings and go towards a rich and meaningful life. Providing a safe, non-judgmental and inclusive space is a priority and she works from a client-centered perspective, making sure that the client feels heard, understood and respected.

The therapy she offers is holistic and draws on a wide range of evidence-based methods including Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviourial Therapy (CBT), trauma informed therapies and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Zahra is available on Mondays.

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Clinical Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University
Bachelor of Health Science with First Class (Honours) in Psychology, AUT Auckland
Master of Health Science (First Class) in Psychology, Auckland University of Technology
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, Auckland University of Technology

Professional Memberships

Registered Psychologist with New Zealand Psychologists Board (Counselling Psychology Scope)
Member New Zealand Psychological Society
Member of The EMDR Association of New Zealand (EMDRNZ)
ACC Registered

Georgie Silk

Georgie qualified as a secondary school teacher before making the decision to return to university to specialise as a counsellor. She has worked extensively with teenagers and young adults who are navigating a wide range of issues and has spent time counselling within secondary and tertiary education.

Georgie uses a strength based approach to help her clients make positive change in their lives. She incorporates a range of approaches including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Compassion-focused therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, grief work and creative modalities into her therapeutic practice. With a performing arts background, Georgie has done extensive research on creative expression for therapeutic benefit.

She has a warm-hearted, non-judgemental and caring personality which helps her build rapport easily with her clients. Georgie also gently welcomes humour into her therapeutic space so her clients can leave with a more optimistic outlook.

Available Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Performing Arts, Unitec
Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching (with distinction), University of Auckland
Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling (with distinction), University of Auckland
Masters in Counselling (with first class honours), University of Auckland

Wellington

7a, 99 The Terrace, Wellington CBD

Jaimee Kleinbichler

Jaimee (she/her) is a registered Clinical Psychologist and works through a multicultural lens. She is Filipino/German, spent her childhood in Nigeria, and moved to Aotearoa New Zealand as a teenager. She is part of the rainbow community and values creating a safe and inclusive space within the therapeutic relationship. Jaimee sees diversity as a strength to be nurtured and welcomes creativity and self-expression in her sessions.

Jaimee has worked with young people and adults over the past decade. She is committed to assisting those she works with to connect with their values and live in a way that is meaningful to them. Her areas of practice include mental health difficulties, offending behaviour, developmental needs and identity formation, gender/sexuality, and acculturation (migration, discrimination, marginalisation).

Her passion lies in social justice advocacy, community care, and harnessing the power of young people. As tangata tiriti, she stands firm in support of tino rangatiratanga for the pursuit of an equitable Aotearoa New Zealand.

Jaimee uses a range of therapy modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Relapse Prevention, Cognitive Self-Change Therapy, and draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy when appropriate. She is ACC registered and will soon be EMDR trained.

Jaimee is available Monday to Thursday. She speaks fluent English and German.

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Canterbury
Master of Science in Psychology, University of Canterbury
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology, University of Canterbury

Charlotte Wetton

Charlotte is a Registered Psychologist who is committed to reducing the stigma and barriers to accessing wellbeing support. She grew up in England but moved over to Aotearoa in 2017. She has over 10 years working with adults across prisons in both in England and New Zealand, including experience of mental health and personality difficulties.

Charlotte aims to helps others to cope with life changing health diagnoses, injuries or events. She provides assessment and therapy for a range of areas including identity, stress, grief, sleep difficulties, anxiety and mood management. Her previous roles also means she has experience of helping people with relationship difficulties, substance recovery and fire interest. She works using a client centered approach, empowering clients to make sense of their story and equipping them with skills to move forward.

Charlotte uses a range of therapy modalities in her work including Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with Schema Therapy and trauma informed approaches when appropriate. She also sees a real benefit from regular Mindfulness and Somatic practices. She is ACC registered and soon to be EMDR trained.

Available Wednesdays

Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (Hons) Social Psychology – Loughborough University, United Kingdom
Forensic Psychology Masters MSc – Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
Supervision to Registration (StR) Programme —Ara Poutama Aotearoa, New Zealand