Based throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, Kenzie’s Gift therapists are all registered mental health professionals who are specialists in working with tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people and their whānau.
Kenzie's Gift services are free and are designed to improve the emotional well-being and good mental health of tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and their whānau affected by serious illness or grief.
We offer up to 12 fully funded 1-on-1 therapy sessions with our Clinical Psychologists and Psychotherapists, who are all well experienced working with tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people and their whānau. Our services are available across Aotearoa New Zealand, and you can meet our therapists below.
Currently in private practice, Cheska has worked for over 20 years in a variety of settings. Her session focus is on supporting tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and families through serious illness, mate pukupuku / cancer and bereavement.
Angela’s particular areas of interest are grief and loss, relationship difficulties, anxiety and depression, maternal mental health, fertility issues and secondary infertility. She offers the opportunity to explore the connections between the current griefs and difficulties and usual ways of coping.
Bernice is a South African psychologist, based in Hawke’s Bay, who has 20 years’ experience working in child and adolescent mental health. She has assessment and therapeutic skills (individual and group) in a broad range of mental health, behavioural and parent-child relationship interventions and therapies.
Bronwyn has worked extensively both in private practice and in hospice and bereavement settings for the last 10 years. She has a passion for helping individuals and couples facing life-threatening illness, companioning the dying and supporting the bereaved.
Caryl is based in New Plymouth and has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of settings. She has particular interests in anxiety, mood challenges, and parent work and therapy styles include Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment (ACT).
David has over 17 years’ experience in the treatment of a range of psychological problems affecting tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people, adults, couples and families. Although he has a very diverse practice, he has a particular interest in the areas of grief and loss.
Dr. Aramis Dennan brings a wealth of experience in treating young people and their families, with a specialized focus on Anxiety and OCD-related challenges.
Dr. Louise Smith, a senior clinical psychologist based in Cromwell, serves clients in Central Otago and Southern Lakes regions.Qualified from the University of Otago in 1994, she boasts a doctorate in psychology and a post-graduate diploma in clinical psychology.
Elsabe van Wyk, trained as a clinical psychologist in South Africa in 1994, later served as a university lecturer and psychologist for six years. Relocating to Whakatane in 2000, she deeply respects and continually broadens her understanding of Māori culture.
Emily has worked in the private sector since 2013 where she specialises in working with tamariki / children, adolescents and young adults. She has training and experience in a variety of evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy.
I work in private practice as a child-centred play therapist, and psychotherapist. I am a certified transactional analyst and use a person-centred approach.
Freyja is a Registered Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years’ experience working in mental health. She’s passionate about actively promoting psychological ideas among the community to improve the wellbeing of families.
Georgia has a passion for supporting tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and whānau through life's challenges. She strives to ensure all involved feel supported and empowered throughout the process.
Glenn is a registered clinical psychologist with over 13 years’ experience. He specialises in working with tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people, and families. Glenn also provides various specialist psychological assessments.
Jasmine works therapeutically with tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people, and whānau with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioural and emotional difficulties, or with those who are having trouble in relationships.
Jenhai began her career working with tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and their families in a variety of settings after training as a social worker and in counselling in the 1990s. She then went on to train as a play therapist at York University in the UK.
Tena koe, as a registered Clinical Psychologist based in Kawatiri – Buller District, I'm dedicated to aiding those navigating complex life challenges.
Jo has worked in Christchurch as a registered Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist since 1996. She specialises in working with tamariki / children and their families who have experienced trauma and loss, including working with teenagers who are suffering from anxiety and depression.
Joanne has been working with tamariki / children and their families in distress for many years. She uses play-based therapy to help tamariki / children express themselves and their inner world. She also sees tamariki / children and their mātua / parents and caregivers for attachment therapy.
I have been helping children, teenagers and adults to make positive changes in their lives for more than 20 years based in Auckland.
Kerry has a passion for helping individuals’ holistic health and well-being and providing a safe space to talk. She understands every client is individual and tailors her sessions accordingly, while utilising research-based therapy.
With a career spanning over three decades, Kiri Kamo specializes in trauma and loss, serving tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau across the Health, Education, and Private sectors. Initially trained as a Primary Teacher, she pivoted to Child Mental Health and Psychotherapy in 1999 and secured her Masters in 2008.
Melanie is passionate about supporting tamariki / children and their families and enhancing parent-child / whānau relationships through difficult times and challenges. Melanie has over 25 years’ experience in social services and the health sector.
Seonaigh works with infants, tamariki / children, adolescents and mātua / parents and caregivers. Her work encompasses grief and loss, particularly within families. Advocating for tamariki / children, she supports families to optimise their relationships and works with tamariki / children in play.
Simon has over 25 years’ experience working with tamariki / children and their families in Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. His clinical experience includes work with a wide range of clinical presentations in tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people, including trauma and loss.
With a Masters focusing on the effects of illness on well siblings, Talia brings invaluable insights to her role as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
Tara qualified as a counselling Psychologist in Ireland in 2000. With over 20 years’ experience, she has worked in a variety of different settings, including with adult survivors of childhood abuse, Specialist Behaviour Services with Te Mahau (Ministry of Education), and more.
Educated at Massey University, Tricia began her career in Northland and Taranaki before spending a decade in Ontario, Canada, where she worked extensively with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Veronica has worked with tamariki / children, adolescents, adults, couples, groups and families for many years in both Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. Her professional interest areas are adolescence, parent-child relationships, whānau systems, negotiating transitions, separation and loss, abuse and trauma, and couple work.
Currently in private practice, Cheska has worked for over 20 years in a variety of settings. Her session focus is on supporting tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and families through serious illness, mate pukupuku / cancer and bereavement.
Angela’s particular areas of interest are grief and loss, relationship difficulties, anxiety and depression, maternal mental health, fertility issues and secondary infertility. She offers the opportunity to explore the connections between the current griefs and difficulties and usual ways of coping.
Bernice is a South African psychologist, based in Hawke’s Bay, who has 20 years’ experience working in child and adolescent mental health. She has assessment and therapeutic skills (individual and group) in a broad range of mental health, behavioural and parent-child relationship interventions and therapies.
Bronwyn has worked extensively both in private practice and in hospice and bereavement settings for the last 10 years. She has a passion for helping individuals and couples facing life-threatening illness, companioning the dying and supporting the bereaved.
Caryl is based in New Plymouth and has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of settings. She has particular interests in anxiety, mood challenges, and parent work and therapy styles include Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment (ACT).
David has over 17 years’ experience in the treatment of a range of psychological problems affecting tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people, adults, couples and families. Although he has a very diverse practice, he has a particular interest in the areas of grief and loss.
Dr. Aramis Dennan brings a wealth of experience in treating young people and their families, with a specialized focus on Anxiety and OCD-related challenges.
Dr. Louise Smith, a senior clinical psychologist based in Cromwell, serves clients in Central Otago and Southern Lakes regions.Qualified from the University of Otago in 1994, she boasts a doctorate in psychology and a post-graduate diploma in clinical psychology.
Elsabe van Wyk, trained as a clinical psychologist in South Africa in 1994, later served as a university lecturer and psychologist for six years. Relocating to Whakatane in 2000, she deeply respects and continually broadens her understanding of Māori culture.
Emily has worked in the private sector since 2013 where she specialises in working with tamariki / children, adolescents and young adults. She has training and experience in a variety of evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy.
I work in private practice as a child-centred play therapist, and psychotherapist. I am a certified transactional analyst and use a person-centred approach.
Freyja is a Registered Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years’ experience working in mental health. She’s passionate about actively promoting psychological ideas among the community to improve the wellbeing of families.
Georgia has a passion for supporting tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and whānau through life's challenges. She strives to ensure all involved feel supported and empowered throughout the process.
Glenn is a registered clinical psychologist with over 13 years’ experience. He specialises in working with tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people, and families. Glenn also provides various specialist psychological assessments.
Jasmine works therapeutically with tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people, and whānau with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioural and emotional difficulties, or with those who are having trouble in relationships.
Jenhai began her career working with tamariki / children, mātātahi / young people and their families in a variety of settings after training as a social worker and in counselling in the 1990s. She then went on to train as a play therapist at York University in the UK.
Tena koe, as a registered Clinical Psychologist based in Kawatiri – Buller District, I'm dedicated to aiding those navigating complex life challenges.
Jo has worked in Christchurch as a registered Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist since 1996. She specialises in working with tamariki / children and their families who have experienced trauma and loss, including working with teenagers who are suffering from anxiety and depression.
Joanne has been working with tamariki / children and their families in distress for many years. She uses play-based therapy to help tamariki / children express themselves and their inner world. She also sees tamariki / children and their mātua / parents and caregivers for attachment therapy.
I have been helping children, teenagers and adults to make positive changes in their lives for more than 20 years based in Auckland.
Kerry has a passion for helping individuals’ holistic health and well-being and providing a safe space to talk. She understands every client is individual and tailors her sessions accordingly, while utilising research-based therapy.
With a career spanning over three decades, Kiri Kamo specializes in trauma and loss, serving tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau across the Health, Education, and Private sectors. Initially trained as a Primary Teacher, she pivoted to Child Mental Health and Psychotherapy in 1999 and secured her Masters in 2008.
Melanie is passionate about supporting tamariki / children and their families and enhancing parent-child / whānau relationships through difficult times and challenges. Melanie has over 25 years’ experience in social services and the health sector.
Seonaigh works with infants, tamariki / children, adolescents and mātua / parents and caregivers. Her work encompasses grief and loss, particularly within families. Advocating for tamariki / children, she supports families to optimise their relationships and works with tamariki / children in play.
Simon has over 25 years’ experience working with tamariki / children and their families in Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. His clinical experience includes work with a wide range of clinical presentations in tamariki / children and mātātahi / young people, including trauma and loss.
With a Masters focusing on the effects of illness on well siblings, Talia brings invaluable insights to her role as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
Tara qualified as a counselling Psychologist in Ireland in 2000. With over 20 years’ experience, she has worked in a variety of different settings, including with adult survivors of childhood abuse, Specialist Behaviour Services with Te Mahau (Ministry of Education), and more.
Educated at Massey University, Tricia began her career in Northland and Taranaki before spending a decade in Ontario, Canada, where she worked extensively with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Veronica has worked with tamariki / children, adolescents, adults, couples, groups and families for many years in both Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. Her professional interest areas are adolescence, parent-child relationships, whānau systems, negotiating transitions, separation and loss, abuse and trauma, and couple work.
If you or your whānau are affected by serious illness or grief, talk to us to see how we can help.
When Nora was three-and-a-half, her younger sister Lumi was born with a very rare heart defect. The Zilmer family was living in Europe at the time. Despite a positive prognosis, Lumi suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at three months old and was unable to be resuscitated.
We reflect on the outcomes of our latest fundraising campaign: the Winter Swim Challenge. While fundraising is crucial for an organisation like Kenzie's Gift, the sense of community a campaign like this creates is just as important, and has far-reaching benefits.
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