CANDAHUB

I have a speciality in working with children and adolescents, and offer specialist assessments and diagnosis for a range of issues, including ADHD and Autism, as well as psychotherapy where indicated.  Trained initially in an eclectic model for psychotherapy, I went on to obtain further qualifications in addictions, and then completed a further postgraduate qualification as a Clinical Psychologist. Following an initial assessment of client needs, I draw on a range of techniques and approaches from the various styles and schools of psychotherapy to best suit the client. I have considerable experience in working with children and adolescents, and my principal approach is client-centred, although I also draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, ACT, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis (TA), Interactive Drawing Therapy and a number of other modalities including motivational interviewing. I have considerable experience in working with trauma, and am trained in EMDR and Flash technique. Formerly ACC registered, since 2025 I have ceased offering trauma therapy or assessments under ACC. I have an ongoing interest in psychoanalytic approaches to therapy, as well as Jungian archetypal theory and dream work.  ​ As a Clinical Psychologist I work with anger issues, relationships, drug or alcohol dependency, depression, grief and trauma, abuse and recovery. I provide assessment and recommendations for a range of presenting issues and concerns, including complex presentations and neurodevelopmental disorders. I have specialist qualifications and an interest, in the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. I have considerable experience in working with young people with challenging behaviours, and have also worked with numerous other issues of concern including brain injuries. I offer professional supervision to other health practitioners, and provide professional development presentations for clinicians and other disciplines when requested.  As part of my ongoing professional development I also regularly attend training workshops and seminars which relate to my work.   ​ I have worked previously in the mental health rehabilitation field, and as a facilitator for a court accredited Living Without Violence group programme for adult men, where I also provided one-to-one counselling, principally for students with anger or behavioural issues. I have additional qualifications and experience in the provision of drug and alcohol counselling, with experience working with adolescents across the Hauraki region; and have also been employed as an educator and clinician for the Problem Gambling Foundation. I have at times been contracted to provide comprehensive drug and alcohol bio/psycho/social assessments for the courts by Oranga Tamariki/ Youth Justice, and have also provided psychotherapy for young people under that service. Formerly a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Waikato DHB’s Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, I left the DHB in October 2021 to return to private practice.

My Initial training and qualifications were obtained in the UK, where I lived until I moved to New Zealand in 2003. New Zealand is now the place I call ‘Home’. I have three children, all now teenagers. I live in a rural township, I enjoy hiking, being on the farm and embracing ‘magic time’ with friends and family.  I am a trained Nursery Nurse, Hospital Play Specialist, Family Therapist and Group Facilitator with additional training in COPMIA (Children Of Parents with Mental Illness and Addictions), IDT (Interactive Drawing Therapy), As part of my ongoing professional development I am completing my Post Graduate Certificate in Child Centred Play Therapy and have begun my journey on a Graduate Diploma/Masters programme of Therapeutic Child Play. I am currently a provider for Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS) Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Education, a local school ‘Trauma’ informed school and two NGO. I am a member of the Hospital Play Therapy Association NZ and the Family Therapy Association NZ  For over 30 years, here in NZ and UK I have been offering Specialist Play Therapies, Family Therapy and facilitating groups for Children, Youth and Families affected by Historical Trauma, Physical illness, especially Blood Cancers, Blood Disorders and Immune Deficiency Disorders. Mental Illness, especially Anxiety. Those too that are affected by grief, in relation to parental separation, change and death of a loved one through a Terminal Illness, Suicide or Sudden Death.    I was the first community hospital play specialist in the UK supporting children at home to process their cancer diagnosis especially in their palliative and dying stage. I have written a children’s book about the dying process ‘The Birth of a Butterfly’ and have written chapters in nursing reference books on the importance of specialist play.  Hospice Waikato (Rainbow Place) brought me over to NZ in 2005 to work as the first Community Hospital Play Specialist within Hospice NZ. Since then I have worked in many Non-Government Agencies (NGO) extending my knowledge within child/youth mental health, neuro diversity and trauma. Along with a variety of Play Therapies offered I also use Creative and Expressive therapies such as: Clay Therapy • Puppetry • Lego Play • Journaling • Creative Writing • Sand Therapy • Sensory Play • Activities relating to feelings • Story Telling.

What is my mission? To support people to fall in love with their lives again. It’s great being a human being and to partner with others to achieve their desired life goals and outcomes. What I do? Counselling, Coaching, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Relaxation and Self Confidence Therapies, Thought and Feeling Change Therapies, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Alcohol and Other Drugs Screening and Counselling and Supervision Services. Qualifications? My quals include - MA; BA hons; PG Dip Health Studies; Cert Supervision; Nlp Pracitioner and Coach Who consults with me? Adults, Couples, Youth, What they consult with me for? People who want to have more calm and ease in the way they live and think – Anxiety & Depression People who want something different and positive for their lives and their relationships. People who want to change and manage their behaviors and become better versions of themselves People who want to reduce or stop their addictive behaviors What kinda person am I? I’m all grown up now. I can take myself seriously and most times I love to laugh. Life started with humble beginnings and getting an education and working smart were constant reminders from my beloved Mom and Dad. In my spare time I read, I do bookspotting, walking and cycling I play the banjo and a bit of percussion. I enjoy hanging out with friends.

My training was integrative which means we explored a lot of different theory models with a basis of psychoanalysis, neuroscience, attachment, transactional analysis, gestalt. This was an arts based training using all the arts music, movement, drama, poetry, puppetry, painting to aid in expression of feelings, giving voice to and being heard being the primary premise of change. As I have worked extensively with trauma with young people and adolescents I have become an advocate for working in a way that is about autonomy, authentic, humanistic and playful, getting alongside someone, where they are at and being curious and willing to sit with big feelings have been the foundation I have found to support healing, transformation. I always work holistically and include breath and movement techniques that support the body to feel connected to and draw on the wisdom that is within. I have worked a lot with children who have ADHD, Autism, those in foster care and adopted who have been through trauma. I have worked in specialist provisions for children who are not in mainstream schooling. In recent years working with severe anxiety. Often parents have said to me that I am the first professional that really gets them and their child, I am not judgemental and get how hard life can be. I became very interested in reaching more young people, earlier in their life after seeing too many children say they were stupid and worthless. In my work explicitly sharing what I knew from neuroscience and life skills with children saw a collaborative style of work and they greatly appreciated having meaningful knowledge so that they could make choices from an aware place not a unconscious projecting, avoiding, demanding, controlling place. Over 9 years I have developed programmes that are taught to whole classes which a wholly inclusive and bring understanding to diversity. These became award, winning a Gold Award for Mental Health Excellence in schools by Islington Council, United Kingdom, Time to Talk initiative June 2018. This has evolved to be Life Skills for Mental Health and Wellbeing; A whole school community approach. I then started working with families on the same material which I absolutely loved, and the magic of parents learning alongside their children was where I wanted to go next. And became a Family Communication Programme combining the award winning 1-5 how are you feeling? scale with key lessons on building self esteem and awareness. The programme is 4 sessions with the family and a consult with parents at the beginning and at the end. When Covid hit us I was very fortunate to have some backing from a foundation in the Uk and successfully initiated, directed and managed what became a large scale, multi regional, both primary and secondary schools in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic with a Mental Health and Therapeutic programme called the Same Sea Different Boats. Coordinated and delivering training to staff, parents and young people with overwhelming positive response. This was very rewarding work and the resources are universal in supporting crisis situations. Personal statement: My relational way of working (fancy way to say I am myself, warts and all, care about myself and are genuinely interested in who I am working with be that an adult or child) brings about change as the young people and adults that I work with are able to commit to life, becoming more harmonious in their relationships with themselves and others. I teach life lessons for children, young people, adults to stay connected to their innate genius and bring all they have to offer out into the world and express with no holding back. On the surface it looks like teaching neuroscience but actually it is giving them the tools to live their whole life with purpose and connection. Looking after my wellbeing ensures I bring clarity, a sense of what is needed through being practical and creative, always with genuine care and lightness of being. I support others to express what may be blocking them as I have an ability to see beyond the issue and support meaningful ways forward.

What is it like to be “truly listened to”, to be heard and understood? Being truly listened to is when we are able to get to know what we truly know – and this is the experience, I believe, where we are able to get to the heart or the matter and bring meaningful changes in our life. I am an experienced and qualified counsellor who has worked with people on all aspects of their life and wellbeing. I have been counselling since 2002, working predominately with adolescents, adults, couple and families on the issues that confront people in the 21st century. Most recently I have had 13 years counselling in a busy primary care setting in Wellington. I am an existential client-centred counsellor who works with people to construct solutions to their contextual issues, that are meaningful and useful. My mantra is that it is in the “doing that we create the being” meaning empowerment, tools and understanding are learnt to address issues and ‘do’ something to make life better. This can be achieved in one meeting or over a number of meetings. I am skilled at helping people experiencing issues with; Work & Leadership Development Communication & Confidence Stress, Burnout & Resilience Anxiety, Depression, Emotion Pain and other Mental Health Difficulties Grief & Loss Transition & Change Physical Pain & Fitness Love including working with couples and families Alcohol, Drug & Internet Being a parent, step-parent or son, daughter or sibling Blended Family Relationships Mood including anger, guilt, generosity, gratitude, sensuality and belonging Living by the beach and surfing as a way of life Or needing  Professional supervision Training and facilitation Therapeutic retreat Qualifications & Experience Bachelor of Counselling (NZ)
Certificate in Professional Supervision
Master of Arts in Social Science Research – Therapeutic Presence
Doctor of Health Science – Counselling as Leading Approved EAP Counsellor Professional Membership Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (MNZAC) I have worked as a counsellor for 14 years. I regularly pursue ongoing professional development. As a professional counsellor, I work under the Code of Ethics of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. I have regular one on one supervision, peer supervision and cultural supervision. I work across culture and understand culture; whether it be work culture, youth culture, cultures within family, ethnicity or other cultural contexts as important to how people live their lives meaningfully. I have a commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi, and an awareness of working within a bi-cultural as well as multi-cultural way. Contact Kent on 021 369 047 or email kent.smith@baycounselling.co.nz Or make an appointment by calling Sharyn on 07-578 0959 I am happy to have a confidential conversation anytime. My work history includes leadership roles in sales, marketing, human resources, primary care leadership and career consulting in corporate, educational and health contexts including facilitating training and coaching individuals. I have lived and worked in Wellington, Hamilton, and Whangamata. I have special interest in mental health, well-being and helping individuals and families build resilient lives. I live north of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty and have rooms in Tauranga and Athenree. I enjoy my family with my partner, three girls and son. I also enjoy listening and talking about music; surfing; mountain biking, up and down; experiencing a good coffee; a good book, literally; camping by the beach, holidays and summertime. Hours Available: Central Tauranga Rooms – Monday and Tuesday – 7.30am to 4pm, Wed 7.30am to 2pm
Athenree Rooms – Thursday Fee $161 per session – gst inclusive from 1 Jan 2023