I have been an Alcohol and Drug counsellor for the past 20 years. I have my own recovery story. I’ve worked across a variety of settings, governmental, NGO’s, as well as a private capacity. I’ve a strong background in group facilitation, Motivational Interviewing, Relapse Prevention as well as Tikanga Māori based ways of healing including Te Ware Tapa Wha (the four sides of the house), Powhiri (process of engagement), Poutama (Journey of healing and enlightenment), Pātūwatawata o te Marae (The pallisaides of the Pā) and others.

As a Practitioner an Trainer of Trainers in MI, I was exposed and “converted” into an MI practitioner in 2002 when a well known international Trainer of Trainers and Researcher - Terri Moyers - had us utilise it on ourselves. The changes that occurred in me in a very short space of time were profound and I could see this was a counselling modality I wanted to be familiar with.

Whiri processes I have had two Train The Trainers training experiences; one on MINT endorsed one in 2010 with Steve Martino and Joel Porter – both well respected Trainers, my second was a MINT endorsed Train the Trainer training in 2013 in Krakow, Poland. I’ve a special interest in the relationship between Tikanga Māori and MI and have developed a model utilising the Pātūwatawata and Pōwhiri process which includes the conversation of change that MI offers by making it Tikanga consistent and acknowledging both the indigenous and western worldview and processes.

As a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers means I’m part of a global community of people who share a similar vision of change and scrutiny of professional practice in order to be the most effective clinicians we can be by embracing the way of being MI offers.

P Grad Cert Health Sciences, BA Soc Sci – Psych & Anthro, Member of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). DAPAANZ Registered Practitioner and Supervisor