Kia ora,
My name is Diva (they/she)
I am a Pākeha, queer, neurodivergent artist and clinical creative arts therapist registered with ANZACATA, the professional body representing creative arts therapists across Aotearoa, Australia and the Asia/Pacific region.
I grew up in Tāmaki Makaurau and Tauranga, and was drawn to the world of creative arts therapies from my background as a visual artist and the impact creativity has had throughout my own wellbeing journey. After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Auckland University in 2016, my pathway led me to Whitecliffe where I completed the Masters of Arts in Creative Arts Therapies in 2023.
I live in Titirangi with my partner and my cat, Beans. In my spare time I love to dance, read, rock-climb, swim, cook and hang out with pals!
My Approach
Holistic, trauma informed, culturally aware, and neurodiverse, queer, and gender affirming approaches guide inter-modal exploration in my practice. This includes a combination of creative processes and talking, and a variety of modalities such as visual art making, narrative, movement, drama, and play, as well as psychoeducation, and visualisation and mindfulness techniques.
Grounded in a person-centred and strengths-based approach to therapy, I invite people to lead the way in their own therapeutic journey, travelling together with their supports and whānau, and working collaboratively with the arts to explore experiences, identity and expression. I can offer a non-judgemental space to explore, imagine and play!
Experience
My therapeutic experience is in group and 1:1 contexts working with young people with diverse life experiences from primary to young adult ages, supporting general well-being, neurodiversity, mental health, and the LGBTTQIA+ community. With experience in schools and community organisations over the past three years, these roles involve working with clients to explore identity and self-expression through the arts, tools for anxiety and regulation, growing confidence and social connections, and discovering strengths and skills.
