WAIKATO COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM (WCST)

Our growing team of Hamilton based counsellors and support staff are here to help.

SELENA NEEDHAM

Founder - Therapist - Supervisor

Selena heads our organisation overseeing the ACC Sensitive Claims Team (ASCT) and our Waikato Community Support Team (WCST). Mother of six adult children, including twins, and Granmama to six gorgeous humans, life is never dull!

Drawing on her lived experience of terminal illness diagnosis, domestic violence and sexual abuse, Selena is passionate about supporting you in your journey.

DENISE GERRING

Counsellor

Denise works with adults and youth.

'I have a passion for people realising their value and worth. I have a real heart for teens and youth and the challenges they face. My experience is in working with single parent families and youth.

As a counsellor I acknowledge the courage and strength it takes to take the first step towards counselling.

MELANIE DAMHUIS

Counsellor

Melanie is a dynamic Counsellor and Personal Life Coach, originally trained as a teacher. Melanie’s therapeutic approach draws on a variety of modalities to support a wide range of clients. Melanie’s style is described as warm, direct, creative and fun. Clients report that they feel safe in her therapeutic space.

She has a keen interest in neurodiversity (ADHD/ASD) and offers support for neurodivergent clients and their family members.

JON PEGRUM

Osteopath

Jon is our resident Osteopath at 63 Boundary Road, Hamilton.

He has over 10 years experience as an Osteo and is ACC accredited. We get oodles of positive feedback about Jon's magic hands.

Jon is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. Phone 07 852 5112.

MATTHEW LETICA

Counsellor

I value integrity, difference, honesty, finding your own path, standing out from the crowd, connection, and relationships. I strongly believe people can be empowered to start their journey to self-discovery to find their own answers. I am not a fixer, however, I might be able to provide guidance around the chaos to help you embark on your own self-discovery journey.

I am not afraid to sit in the emotional, dark, and frightening places.

WANT TO WORK WITH US?

Counsellor

Download your expression of interest form here

Check your eligibility here, and then complete your expression of interest form here

ACC SENSITIVE CLAIMS TEAM (ASCT)

Our growing team cover the Waikato for ACC sensitive claims

SELENA NEEDHAM

Founder - Therapist - Supervisor (Hamilton)

Selena heads our organisation overseeing the ACC Sensitive Claims Team (ASCT) and our Waikato Community Support Team (WCST).

Mother of five adult children, including twins, and Granmama to six gorgeous humans, life is never dull!

Drawing on lived experience of terminal illness, domestic violence and sexual abuse, Selena is passionate about others being supported in their journey.

CATHERINE SIMWINGA

Counsellor (Hamilton)

Catherine's specialty areas include grief, and supporting men re-entering society after incarceration.

Catherine has worked as an oncology nurse, counsellor and pastor for a number of years and brings a wealth of knowledge from these fields. She is a wife and mother with three adult children.

As an immigrant, she brings knowledge and understanding of the stress that migration brings.

VICKIE TUAU

Counsellor (Hamilton)

Vickie works as an ACC sensitive claims counsellor and has worked in the area
of sexual harm for 20 years, in an agency and in private practice.

She works with adults and youth.

She is passionate in assisting others to live a happier and more fulfilled life.
She also works with: trauma, domestic violence, relationship difficulties, lack of
confidence/self-worth, stress, anxiety, depression, self-harm, grief and loss, anger management, and coping with life changes.

Vickie offers: in person and telehealth counselling.

AMANDA DREWER

Clinical Psychologist (Hamilton)

Hello and kia ora! My name is Amanda and I am a Registered Clinical Psychologist and ACC provider. Originally from England, I am a mum to three boys. I enjoy painting and drawing, and generally being out in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s beauty. I work in Hamilton and have a small face to face private practice mainly focused on completing assessments for ACC and Havening. My face to face days are Monday and Tuesday with online options other days depending on availability. My specialty area is in trauma work and addressing adverse childhood/adult/life experiences in adulthood.

I am really mindful of the courage it takes to make change or to approach someone for support and as such, I always take a gentle approach in my mahi/work and strive to create a place of safety.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop an email to: admin@waikatosurvivors.org.nz, Tena rawa atu koe/thank you.

ANDREA ROWE

Counsellor (Waihi)

Tēnā koe, My name is Andrea Rowe. I was born in Taranaki and have lived in North Waikato for many years. I am now based in Waihī. I provide both face-face and online sessions. I work Mon-Thurs 8-5am. I am an experienced therapist with 30 years experience in the mental health, addiction and trauma fields. I am drawn to this work because I know we can heal from past trauma and transform our lives. I am dedicated to facilitating this process.

ROBERT JENKINSON

Counsellor and Supervisor (Hamilton)

Robert has been counselling in Hamilton for 30+ years, and has worked in the field of sexual harm for the last 25 years,
with both offenders and survivors. He is also a supervisor and trainer. He has been a teacher both in England and New Zealand, and has a wealth of experience including working as a clinical leader at Relationship Services,
a tutor for Child Protection Studies, a tutor at Wintec and Vision College, a Family Court counsellor, and a coordinator of a child sexual offender rehabilitation
programme. He arrived in NZ from England in 1983, and has been married to Jasmine for 26 years. He has 3 step-sons and four grandchildren.

DIONE DAVIES

Arts Therapist (Hamilton)

Kia ora, I'm Dione Davies and I whakapapa to Ngati Rehua/Ngatiwai ki Aotea. I'm based in Hamilton but see all of my clients (adults only) online. As an Arts Therapist I bring a creative focus to my work, helping people engage with their own creativity in whatever form that takes - art, dance and movement, writing, poetry, music etc. I passionately believe we have these interests and skills as resources for our wellbeing and they hold the key to living a healthy balanced life. And you don't have to be good at them to enjoy the benefits! Together we'll gently explore and see which creative art you connect with.

LYNN MEREDITH

Counsellor

(Matamata)

Kia ora my name is Lynn Meredith. I am a counsellor. My days and hours of work are
Monday to Thursday from 9:00am to 5:00pm in Matamata. On Friday I work in Morrinsville
9:00am to 5:00pm.
I work mainly with adults and also teenagers from 14years who have experienced sexual
abuse trauma. I enjoy working with people, listening to their stories non judgementally and
helping them move forward in a positive way. I have been counselling people with sexual
abuse trauma for 9 years.
I am a member of NZAC.

ANINDITA DEY-SINHA

Counsellor (Hamilton)

Namaste, My name is Anindita. I was born and raised in India. I am a woman of faith and
with a strong sense of my cultural identity. NZ has been my home for 25
years. I am based in Tamahere, Hamilton. I work on weekdays and Saturday. I
have a lot of experience in working cross culturally and value the diverse cultural heritage of people
that I work with. I feel incredibly privileged to pursue an area of work which is my passion and
nurtures my soul. My works creates opportunity for me to honour the life journey of those that I
work with in a safe therapeutic environment that enhances, self-compassion, self-advocacy and self-
forgiveness.

SARAH REID

Clinical Psychologist

(Hamilton)

I work alongside children, adolescents and adults. I have been practicing since 2012, and under ACC Sensitive Claims since 2015. I have worked in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ICAMHs), and the Waikato Hospital Pain Clinic. I primarily work under ACC Sensitive Claims, and have a passion for supporting clients who have experienced traumatic life events. I see clients for therapy as well as completing specialist assessments and treatment reviews. I use Cognitive Behavioural, Acceptance , Mindfulness and Trauma Focused Therapy approaches including Trauma Processing and Polyvagal Theory Informed Practice.

GLENN DUTHIE & Shylah

Counsellor (Hamilton)

Kia ora, my name is Glenn Duthie. I live in Whaingaroa (Raglan) but am based in Hamilton. I work Mon – Thur both face to face in my office (often accompanied by my little helper Shylah) and online.

I am a counsellor with 12 years' experience working with trauma, grief and loss, anxiety and depression. I have a pastoral background and have worked with a diverse range of clients including young people and different ethnicities.

I believe that listening and being present to witness people's stories is vital in any healing process. Having a safe space to work through trauma to discover new ways of being and living is what I can offer.