Ko wai māua?

Ko Whakapūnaki, Tarawera ngā maunga

Whakapūnaki and Tarawera are my mountains

Ko Te Wairoa Hopupu Honengenge Matanga Rau te awa

Te Wairoa Hopupu Honengenge Matanga Rau is my river

Ko Takitimu, Māhuhu-ki-ti-rangi nga waka

Takitimu and Māhuhu-ki-ti-rangi are my canoe

Ko Tawhiti a maru, Waikāretu nga marae 

Tawhiti a maru and Waikāretu are my meeting houses

Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Ngāti Whātua ōku iwi

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa and Ngāti Whātua are my tribes

Ko Alex Richards tōku ingoa

My name is Alex Richards 

I am a registered clinical psychologist and a member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists. I have experience working with a range of presentations, including anxiety, mood, trauma, substance-related issues, anger, neurodiversity, and challenging and offence-related behaviours. I have experience working with rangatahi and their whānau accessing specialist mental health services, and with adults in the NGO/community mental health space. I have several years experience completing Court ordered assessment reports.

I am trained in a range of treatment modalities including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness. I am interested in the integration of mātauranga Māori and bicultural models of wellbeing into psychology and my mahi.

Kei Ōtautahi ahau e noho ana, ko Ōpawaho te awa e mahea nei aku māharahara

I live in Christchurch, the Heathcote is the river that alleviates my worries

I tipu ake ki Kaiapoi ahau

I grew up in Kaiapoi

No Kōtirana ōku tīpuna, ko Queen of the Mersey te waka

My ancestors are from Scotland, coming to New Zealand on the 'Queen of the Mersey' ship

Ko Taryn Lewis tōku ingoa

My name is Taryn Lewis

I am a child and family psychologist, working mostly with rangatahi and their whānau, caregivers or kaimahi. I have experience in working alongside children and young people with a history of trauma, including those with difficult, challenging or problematic behaviours. Key approaches include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Whanaunatanga (connection), manakitaanga (kindness) and aroha (compassion) are key values in how I practice. I enjoy working with a wide range of individuals, primarily in late adolescence or early adulthood.