Illumen are a growing team of Clinical Psychologists and mental health specialists. We combine science, theory, and clinical experience to help people with issues that are getting in the way of living.
We work with adolescents, adults, individuals, and couples. We provide assessments and evidence-based treatments across a broad range of issues and experiences, including depression and anxiety.
Our mission is to be a centre of excellence in supporting people through their difficulties. By providing specialist treatments supporting growth and positive change, we’ll get you back to living the life you value, as soon as possible.
Our Psychologists
North Shore Clinic

Interests and Experience
Jules has experience working in a range of settings including forensics, the district health board (Te Whatu Ora) in-patient and community settings and within private practice. Jules’ experience has primarily been assisting adults (of all ages), adjusting and adapting to significant life changing injuries, illness or events. Jules’s experience is based on a passion for assisting individuals navigate day to day life struggles and challenges, both within themselves and in relation to others. This experience has meant working alongside individuals with a range of psychological difficulties, physical health conditions and complex social situations. Jules has a strong interest in the development, management and rehabilitation of neurological conditions. She also brings a holistic mind body approach to the health and wellbeing of individuals navigating the shared experience of being human.
Approach
Navigating life’s challenges can be overwhelming and consume every part of who we are. The climb through pain and suffering can take its toll mentally, physically, socially and spiritually, in connection with ourselves and others, so that we are left wondering how life can be any different.
Jules approach to therapy is to create a collaborative and supportive environment, by working alongside her clients during challenges and difficulties. Jules understands that everyone has a different mountain to climb, so works by providing evidenced based modalities (including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, dialectical behavioural skills and mindfulness based therapies), in a strengths based approach unique to every individual’s situation and needs.
Jules is based at Illumen's satellite clinic in Takapuna, on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings.
Auckland Clinic

Approach
Kathryn is an experienced Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about helping people grow and get more out of life. She works with people to pinpoint areas for change, identifying the roots of unhelpful patterns and what drives these, utilizes a person’s strengths, and teaches practical strategies to overcome difficulties and emotional pain. Kathryn uses a combination of evidence-based therapies aimed at reducing distress and improving quality of life. Integrating science, theory, and a breadth of clinical experience, Kathryn hopes to make therapy as brief as it needs to be, helping people get back to living the life they value as soon as possible.
Areas of speciality
Originally trained in New Zealand, Kathryn then lived and practiced in Sydney for ten years working in community mental health and private practice. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in diverse settings including specialised services for youth, mental health rehabilitation, adult community mental health, inpatient mental health units, and in private practice where she has been since 2013.
Kathryn specialises in mood and anxiety disorders, which includes the full spectrum of mood issues and anxiety difficulties, including panic, generalised anxiety, OCD, and social anxiety. Her special interests are in panic disorder, specific phobias (particularly using virtual reality), and trauma (including post-traumatic stress disorder and complex PTSD).
She also has a particular interest in women’s health and parenting, being a mum to two young children herself. This Includes pre and post-natal issues, and returning to work and balancing career and family life after having children.
Kathryn also has expertise in working with emotion regulation issues, particularly in young women, and psychosis and perceptual disturbances (such as hearing voices).
Kathryn has been involved in teaching and training mental health clinicians, and provision of clinical supervision to colleagues and intern Psychologists from Sydney-based Universities. Kathryn also participates in regular peer supervision and professional workshops to continue developing her knowledge, skills, and techniques.
Kathryn is at Illumen Mondays through to Thursdays.

Approach
Amy is client centred and collaborative in her approach to therapy. Using evidence-based practices, each session will be tailored to your specific concerns and presenting issues. Engaging in therapy can feel like a daunting task. Her aim is to create a safe and supportive environment to progress towards your therapy goals, whether you want brief therapy and to the point strategies, or you need space for more long-term support and processing. Amy is a Grey Lynn native and values the diversity and vibrancy in our community, she has a genuine interest and respect for each person’s unique perspective, experience and culture.
Clinical Experience
Amy has experience working in hospital, community, primary care and corporate settings. Amy has most recently been working at a Primary Health Organisation on the North Shore and previously trained at Counties Manukau District Health Board in both community and inpatient adult mental health teams. Amy has experience working with adults experiencing a range of presenting concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, adjustment, trauma, disordered eating, women’s health, aging and illness.
Areas of Speciality
Having experienced anxiety herself, Amy has a high level of empathy and understands the challenges anxious patterns of thinking can create. Amy has worked successfully with clients using evidence-based practices to build confidence and overcome anxious avoidance in panic attacks, social anxiety, generalised anxiety, specific phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Amy’s doctoral research investigated the affects of a low intensity mindfulness-based phone app intervention on measures of stress, well-being and emotion reactivity. Her research investigated the active components of mindfulness underlying observed clinical benefits.
Amy works Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Illumen.

Approach
Stephen works in a collaborative goal focused manner utilising a variety of therapeutic approaches to help his clients gain mastery and peace with the issues they are facing in life. Therapies include Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) , Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT).
Sessions with Stephen will help you gain a deeper insight into what is causing you to feel and act the way you do and to gain coping skills and strategies to manage the difficulties you are experiencing so you can have a more rewarding and fulfilling life.
Sessions are worked through at your own pace in order for you to get the absolute most out of the time we spend together.
Areas of Specialty
Stephen works with people experiencing issues such as:
- Low and Depressed Mood
- Stress
- Worry and Anxiety
- Motivational Problems
- Medically Unexplained Symptoms
- Men’s issues (including Pornography Addictions, Midlife crises)
- Spirituality or Existential Issues
- Chronic Health Issues
- The challenges and struggles of everyday life
- Sports Performance
Stephen is available for appointments on Fridays.

Approach
Bridget is an experienced Clinical Psychologist who works from a warm, compassionate, and non-judgemental stance. She strives to create a warm and safe therapy space so that you can feel heard and understood. Bridget uses evidence based practise to work collaboratively towards your therapy goals. This includes working with people to identify their thoughts, behaviour and feelings and to develop a tool box of skills to manage these. She hopes to offer short term therapy to enable you to live a meaningful and fulfilled life.
Areas of Speciality
Bridget has worked with children, youth and adults in diverse settings including child and adolescent community mental health, adolescent inpatient mental health, adult community mental health, private practice and youth forensic services across New Zealand and London. Bridget has extensive experience in working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Her primary therapeutic approach is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), although other approaches are incorporated as required in order to best meet the needs and goals of clients. These include Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness.
Bridget has experience in providing interventions for the following experiences:
- Depression and mood difficulties
- Worry/Stress
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks (including phobias, social anxiety and OCD).
- Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress.
- Anger and emotion regulation difficulties.
She also has experience in neuropsychological assessment, including the assessment of Intellectual Disability and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. She has completed assessments of fitness to stand trial and has experience as an expert witness in the Youth Court.
Bridget has experience in the supervision of Clinical Psychologists and other mental health professionals. She has also been involved in the teaching and supervision of Intern Psychologists from London and Auckland Universities.
Bridget is at Illumen on Mondays and Tuesdays. She also works part time for the Auckland District Health Board.

Primary therapeutic approaches include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Svenja is also experienced in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Triple P (Positive Parenting Programme).
Originally from Germany, Svenja has been living in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2003. Svenja completed her Masters and Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology at the University of Canterbury in 2012. In addition, Svenja completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy at Massey University. Svenja has worked as a Psychologist in the mental health, child care and protection, as well as education sector for a number of years.
Svenja is registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board; and a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) and the EMDR Association of New Zealand (EMDRNZ).
Svenja is currently available for appointments on Thursdays and Fridays (mornings).

Approach
Ursula values a humanistic approach. She strives to create a warm and culturally respectful environment where people feel safe to discuss difficult issues. She believes the key to successful therapy is developing a trusting and collaborative therapeutic relationships with clients, combined with evidence-based practices. She works by understanding a person’s unique worldview, and supports people to become reflective of their unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving. She is passionate about motivating clients to live a more fulfilling life and regain a sense of wellbeing. Therapy can be short-term or long-term, goal orientated and/or reflection focused, and directed towards developing practical skills as well as deepening insight that can then be translated into meaningful change.
Areas of Specialty
Ursula’s clinical experience has mostly been in the public sector, both in mental health services across Auckland, and within a correctional/forensic setting. Ursula has experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. She has been trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Self Change (CSC) and Mindfulness modalities. Her therapeutic approach is also informed by Attachment, Schema, Psychodynamic, and Systems/Family theory, and she has experience in skills based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Ursula has worked with clients on issues relating to Interpersonal and Relationship Problems, Personality Disorders, Anxiety and Depression, Emotion Regulation, Childhood Abuse, Issues with Anger and Violence, OCD related behaviours, Substance Use, Eating Disorders, and Concerning Sexual Behaviours and Thoughts.
Ursula has a special interest in infant mental health and developmental psychology and issues that relate to the parent-baby relationship. She has experience in forensic psychology (offending behaviours) and therapeutic group work.
Ursula’s Doctoral research investigated the experiences of Mental Health Support Workers in dealing with client suicidality.
Ursula is at Illumen on Mondays.

Angus is full member of the NZ College of Clinical Psychologists, and a Professional Member of the Association of Contextual Behavioural Science.
Through working with Angus, you will learn how to clear away the clutter and the chaos, to focus on what is true, what is important, and what is of value to you. Using a combination of therapy techniques including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness, I can help you ‘get out of your head and into your life'.
Services
Angus is comprehensively trained in a range of models including ACT, CBT and DBT. He has experience in the treatment of a wide range of clinical issues including:
Depression
Anxiety
Stress/burnout
Relationship challenges
Trauma
Angus is able to integrate different modalities to meet the needs of each individual client.
Visit www.contextualpsychology.co.nz for more info about Angus and his practice.

full member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (MNZCCP) and the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA).
Approach
Charlotte has an empathic and non-judgmental style which creates a safe space for clients to be open regarding their difficulties. Charlotte works collaboratively with her clients to help them better understand their challenging thoughts, feelings, and experiences and develop new ways to manage these. She utilises a range of evidence-based interventions and tailors treatment to best suit her client’s individual needs, supporting long-term and meaningful change.
Areas of Specialty
Charlotte has experience working with adults and adolescents in community, specialized, and private mental health settings. She has completed training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness.
Charlotte has expertise in providing interventions for the following experiences:
- Depression and mood difficulties
- Anxiety (including excessive worry, panic, phobias, OCD, trauma-related
stress, and social anxiety)
- Emotion regulation difficulties
- Interpersonal and relationship stressors
- Communication and assertiveness difficulties
- Work related stress and burnout
- Life transitions and personal growth
- Psychosis
Charlotte is available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Approach
Ondria applies a collaborative, non-judgemental and holistic approach to her work, and strives to provide a warm, welcoming and safe therapy environment. Using evidence-based therapies, sessions will be specific to your overarching therapy goals and needs, with the flexibility to address issues as they arise. Ondria will be able to cater to skills based learning and shorter durations of therapy, as well as longer process driven work. She is passionate about supporting her clients to develop more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Ondria has been trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
Areas of Specialty
Ondria has worked in hospital and community based settings with children and adolescents, and with adults. Her work has ranged from the North Shore of Auckland to West Auckland. Her training involved working with children in central Auckland, and with outpatient Adult Mental Health. Ondria has experience within child and adolescent settings around behavioural difficulties, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Selective Mutism, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, Parenting and the parent-child relationship, Interpersonal Difficulties – both within schools and families, and drug and alcohol use. Within adult settings, she has experience in working with Depression and Anxiety, Trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder and OCD.
Ondria’s doctoral research investigated the experiences of women who took antidepressants long term for the treatment of depression, and their experiences of recovery.

Expertise
Joanna has experience working in primary, community and private mental health settings with adults experiencing a wide range of mild to severe mental health problems. She has specialty training in the areas of trauma, OCD, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation and in working with older adults. She is registered with ACC to undertake assessments and to support survivors of both physical and sexual trauma in their recovery.
Approach
Joanna is committed to supporting and guiding people to identify treatment goals and make tangible positive change in their lives. She works in collaboration with other services and providers as needed in order to support wholistic, safe and effective treatment. Joanna favours the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Therapy (EMDRt) and draws on the principles of somatic, schema and neuropsychotherapies to support people in meeting their goals.
With her background in critical and emergency care nursing, Joanna brings a breadth of health related knowledge to her work as well as a compassionate and pragmatic approach to supporting her clients to live the life they strive for.

Approach
Clare’s approach to therapy is holistic, collaborative, and compassionate. She enjoys working with people to understand the patterns playing out in their life and what will lead to meaningful change. She is passionate about building on clients’ strengths and seeing people live more fulfilling lives.
Clare uses evidence-based practice to work with her clients toward their therapy goals. She has trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Mindfulness. Clare also integrates techniques from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) and Schema Therapy as suited to clients’ needs and goals. Therapy can be short term or long term.
Experience
Clare’s has experience working in mental health, addiction, and forensic settings. Through her roles she has worked to help people cope with a range of problems including anxiety, depression, substance use difficulties/addiction, intense emotions, stress, anger, and relationship difficulties. She has trained in therapeutic group work and has experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Clare completed her doctoral thesis on parents’ experiences of caring for a teenager at risk of suicide.
Clare works at Illumen on Saturdays.

Approach
Chris integrates a number of therapeutic models into his practice including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness. He has a warm and compassionate style, with an approach that is person-centred, collaborative, and aims to meet the unique needs of each person. Chris focuses on helping people make sense of challenges they are currently experiencing, clarify what is important to them, and take steps to make desired change.
Clinical Experience
Chris has clinical experience working across a range of community mental health and private therapeutic settings, including working with adolescents and adults; working with families; working with Maori and Pasifika clients and whanau; and working with a range of difficulties and levels of distress including:
Depression
Anxiety
Emotional difficulties
Trauma and attachment difficulties
Cultural issues and identity
Relationship issues
Chris is available at Illumen on Fridays.

Approach
Tiare’s work is inspired by her understanding of the connectedness of human suffering, and the knowledge that all of us experience periods of difficulty in our lives. She knows that it can be hard to ask for support and even harder to address the causes of our struggles. Tiare is committed to creating a warm and safe therapeutic environment in which her clients feel empowered to do the self-reflective work required to make changes. She believes good work happens through connection, compassion and collaboration. Her eclectic approach is tailored to the style and needs of the client, strengths focussed and informed by evidence based modalities (including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solutions Focussed Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness self-compassion therapy, EFT).
Experience and Interests
Tiare has spent 20 years in various settings including corporate, PHO and private practice. She works with individuals and couples (EFT certified level 1) and has helped many hundreds of people navigate difficult periods of their life. She has a strong interest in anxiety, neurodiversity (ASD spectrum and ADHD) and relationship work.
Currently she is also supporting a number of organisations to navigate rising levels of burn up (refuses to use the word burnout) as we continue to face a world wide context of uncertainty and challenge.
Visit www.tiaretolks.com for more info on Tiare and her approach.

Clinical Experience
Uvonne has over ten years clinical experience in community mental health, primary health and private practice settings with both adolescent and adult clients. She has extensive experience working with a wide range of mental health difficulties. Uvonne works in a holistic, non judgemental and client centred manner, drawing from her training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is committed to providing safe and evidence based practice to help her clients reach their therapy goals.
Areas of Interest
Uvonne spends part of her time treating individuals who have experienced trauma, including sexual abuse covered under ACC, first responders and parents who have experienced trauma during the birth of their children. Alongside this Uvonne works with individuals experiencing mood disorders, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, emotion regulation difficulties, and relationship difficulties. Uvonne is also available for supervision, consultancy and to complete psychological assessments.
Uvonne is at Illumen on Mondays, and is also available for online sessions.

Master of Science in Health Psychology (Distinction), a Post Graduate Diploma in Health
Psychology (Distinction), and a Bachelor of Laws and Arts (Honours). She is registered under
the New Zealand Psychologists Board (general scope) and holds a current practising
certificate.
Clinical Experience
Francesca has experience working in public health, private, and corporate settings. She has
most recently worked at Fertility Associates in Auckland, and previously trained at the Auckland District Health Board in the tertiary chronic pain service.
She has experience in working with adults experiencing a range of concerns including:
-Anxiety
-Depression and mood difficulties
-Stress
-Relationship difficulties
-Grief and loss
-Trauma
-Womens’ health
-Chronic physical health issues.
Approach
Francesca's therapeutic approach is client centred, acknowledging clients' unique reasons
for seeking help. She prioritises creating a safe and supportive environment for clients,
with an emphasis on active listening, warmth, and attunement. Within this space,
Francesca seeks to deepen clients’ understanding of the factors contributing to their
challenges, and to equip them with science-based tools to navigate difficulties and improve
well-being.
Francesca works holistically, drawing from evidence-based models including Cognitive-
Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based
self-compassion therapy (MBSC), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Her way of
thinking and working is also informed by attachment/family systems and polyvagal theory.
Areas of Specialty
Francesca particularly enjoys working with individuals and couples impacted by womens’ health issues including fertility challenges, [peri]menopause, adjustment to parenthood/the post-natal period. She has particular experience in helping to manage the psychological aspects of chronic physical health conditions.
Research
Francesca also has a strong research background. She is currently conducting research in the
area of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant mental health conditions at Auckland University. Her doctoral research explored the relationship between mindfulness (trait and trained) on certain markers of physical health, using controlled and experimental study designs.
Francesca is at Illumen on Tuesdays.

Areas of speciality
Jerome is passionate about supporting people to navigate life's challenges and live lives they
experience as fulfilling and meaningful. He has experience working with adults in public health settings and young people in statutory care. With a strong commitment to evidence-based practices, Jerome provides assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychological difficulties, including:
-Low/depressed mood
-Anxiety
-OCD
-Trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD
-Emotion regulation
-Interpersonal difficulties
-Perceptual disturbances (e.g., voice-hearing)
Approach
Jerome strives to provide clients with the tools and support they need to overcome their difficulties and create a life that aligns with their values.
Jerome’s treatment approach is informed by a blend of evidence-based therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Exposure
and Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). This approach enables him and his clients to collaboratively tailor their work to address clients’ specific needs and goals.
Jerome hopes that his warm and genuine interpersonal style helps create a safe, welcoming, and collaborative space where clients feel comfortable exploring and making sense of their concerns and feel empowered to work toward desired change.
Jerome is at Illumen on Fridays.
Our Psychiatrists

She welcomes referrals for bonding and attachment difficulties, parent-child relationship problems, child and youth behavioural difficulties, and adult insight-oriented psychotherapy.
Dr Sava can also offer assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for all ages, including administering the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
More information on Dr Sava, visit www.drsava.nz

Areas of Specialty
Susan has a special interest in working with adolescents and transitional youth, and their families, and in working with young people with eating disorders and co-morbid mental health conditions. Currently she works at Tupu Ora, the regional eating disorders service where she works within a multidisciplinary team both therapeutically using the Family based therapy model and SSCM, assessing and managing adjunctive medications and providing assessment and management of associated conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Susan is available to see children, adolescents and transitional youth for assessment and treatment of mental health concerns including eating disorders, anxiety, depression and ADHD. Susan accepts referrals from General Practitioners, psychologists and other mental health clinicians.
Referrals to Susan can be made by emailing Susan directly at trapezereferrals@gmail.com.
Our Mental Health Social Workers

Carmel is a Clinical Social Worker who has worked within inpatient and community settings in Australia and New Zealand across a diverse demographic, supporting people through their individual recovery.
Approach
Carmel is a Mum of two young children and has a particular interest in women’s health. Her approach is person-centred and strengths-based, led with experience in the following areas of rehabilitation: multi-trauma orthopaedic, acquired brain injury (ABI), private orthopaedic, and amputee rehabilitation.
Carmel is completing further studies in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) through the Beck Institute.
Areas of Interest
-Providing best practice tools for helping people adjust to life changes and/or difficulty with low mood and anxiety
-Women’s health pre and post-natal issues
-Stress management
-Supportive counselling in relation to a change in health status and community integration
Carmel is available at Illumen on Fridays.