Our People

Jeremy has worked as a manager, counsellor and specialist FV practitioner for the agency over 20 years. When he’s not working at ChangeAbility, Jeremy has a private counselling practice and is completing an advanced training in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). He also teaches mindfulness and meditation retreats throughout New Zealand and is a founding member of  Waiwaste Food Rescue.

Liat has worked with the agency since 2005 and is part of the management team. She is the coordinator of Mates & Dates in Wairarapa.

Angela comes to the Wairarapa from the Manawatu with 12 years’ experience as the office administrator for a busy school.   She endeavours to provide a welcoming, helpful and efficient service to anyone engaging with ChangeAbiity.  Although every organisation is different some of the fundamental goals for an administrator are the same. To be efficient, accurate and adaptive. Angela also values the importance and responsibility of being the first point of contact for people seeking help through ChangeAbility.

Elise joins to team in an admin support role.

Kay has worked with the agency for over 20 years. She plays a key role in supporting and engaging families to become safer and more respectful. Kay provides family violence community training and in-house supervision and is a specialist FV practitioner working with clients individually and in groups.

Kath has over 16 year’s counselling experience, providing general counselling and family violence programmes. She has completed a 3 year training in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and uses this modality in her therapeutic work with clients. Kath is now engaging in further training on an advanced course in ISTDP – this will deepen her experience and effectiveness across the board with clients. This enables further improved outcomes for all involved.

Hayley has worked as a Social Worker, is a specialist FV practitioner, and Mates and Dates Facilitator   for the agency for over 8 years, previously working within the mental health field for young people. Hayley works within the family violence team with Men, Women and Children.  Hayley takes a strength task based approach to working with clients and a holistic view to their wellbeing.

Paul is a specialist FV practitioner and delivers programmes to men and youth. He is a facilitator of the ACC ‘Mates n Dates’ programme and also works in schools to help promote respectful ways of behaving and communicating.

Walking alongside whānau holistically with a strength based kaupapa is the essence of Kelly’s work. Kelly’s has a background in teaching before becoming a Kaituitui (navigator) for Whānau Ora Wairarapa. This is where the spark to engage with whānau in the community to support them to make positive choices and changes for themselves began. Kelly is the Co-ordinator for the Family Harm Interagency Response team and a specialist FV practitioner providing programme facilitation for men, woman and youth. She is an approved ACC ‘Mates n Dates’ facilitator in colleges.

Margie is a firm believer in the benefits that counselling can bring for adults, children and families. She believes that a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment allows people to explore concerns and issues that may be holding them back.  Honesty, kindness, creativity and perspective underpin her approach.  Margie tailors counselling to the individual or couples by using a mix of talk and narrative therapies, Emotionally Focused Therapy ]EFT],  cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and creative therapies (such as play and sand tray).

Clive comes to counselling after having a variety of work life experiences in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Whilst working as the Guidance Counsellor in a community college he increased his cultural awareness and practice of engaging clients with a framework of wellbeing called Te whare tapa whā and learnt to appreciate the importance of support agencies. In his counselling practice Clive has training in Interactive Drawing Therapy and is an EMDR trained therapist. At ChangeAbility, Clive is also a Family Violence Programme facilitator.

Originally from Tolaga Bay and Gisborne, Briar has lived and worked as a counsellor in the Wairarapa for nearly ten years. She is a full member of NZAC and in her fourth year of BioEnergetics Psychotherapy Training. This is an approach to therapy that incorporates the mind and the body and is deeply rooted in attachment theory. She has a relational and creative approach to her work, often using Interactive Drawing Therapy and Play Therapy. Briar has a special interest in working with grief and loss and relationship trauma. Briar cares deeply about all the people she works alongside.

Tim is a very experienced counsellor and a specialist FV practitioner providing family violence programmes.

Rachel is currently studying a Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction. She has a background in the service industry and aged care and believes in approaching her work in a non-judgmental way with compassion and empathy. Rachel’s interests are broad and include working with children, youth, women and with addiction in a trauma informed and collaborative way. Rachel is training to become a specialist FV practitioner to provide programmes for men and women.

Lorraine has joined the team at Changeability to complete a Bachelor of Counselling. Through a variety of life experiences, Lorraine has benefited positively to personal counselling. Lorraine brings compassion and understanding to her counselling work. Having spent many years working as  a nurse, Lorraine saw the importance of caring for the emotional and psychological health of people as important as their physical health. Lorraine especially enjoys working to find the unique strengths and resilience that each person brings.

Sally has joined ChangeAbility to complete her third and final year of a Bachelor of Counselling which she is studying through Bethlehem Tertiary Institute.   Sally is aware it takes courage to seek counselling support and is passionate about providing a safe and non-judgemental environment where you can explore, discover and grow through the difficulties you face.  Sally’s life experience of living rurally, supporting a farm business, church youth leadership and raising four children underpin the set of skills that she brings.

Justine has a background in couple’s therapy. Her life experience and ongoing study help her to be an empathetic, encouraging, non-judgemental part of the changeability team. Justine is training to become a specialist FV practitioner, and is committed to working with individuals, couples, and families to build relationships that are free of violence and abuse, she loves helping others make positive changes in their lives. Justine is training to become a family violence facilitator.

Alishea is the Administrator for the Family Harm Interagency Response team; she works alongside the Co-Ordinator of Te Tatau Pounamu to assess risk and create plans for whānau affected by Family Harm. Alishea has a background in investigations, finance and management support, and loves being home in the Wairarapa raising her boys and growing flowers.

Mike has joined us as the Family Violence Network Coordinator for the Wairarapa.