Psychologists Ed and Clinical Counselling

MEMBER OF:

• New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPSS)
• NZ Teachers Council
• International Reading Association
• Triple P Positive Parenting Programme
• SPELD,
• NZ Gifted Association
• NZ Dyslexia Foundation

Marie is a registered Educational Psychologist. Marie gained her degrees and teaching qualifications in Auckland. Marie’s Master’s research focussed on improving reading comprehension, her research has been published in New Zealand and overseas. Marie has also authored a teachers’ resource called ‘Reciprocal Teaching – A practical approach to improving comprehension skills’ (2008). Marie continues to hold a strong interest in reading comprehension and regularly presents at workshops and seminars around New Zealand. In 2010 Marie presented at the 23rd World Congress on Reading.

Trained as an Educational Psychologist/Primary school teacher Marie is able to undertake a comprehensive and variety of assessments in:

• Cognitive functioning/ IQ testing in children, adolescents and adults
• Learning disabilities
• Academic assessments
• Gifted assessments
• Dyslexia, dyscalculia (mathematics)
• ADD/ADHD and more

During her career Marie has worked within a variety of settings including a Psychologist at the Ministry of Education – Special Education, RTLB, lectured in the Reading and Language Department at the Auckland College of Education and in the Retraining Teachers Course; as a teacher (Reg) both in primary and secondary sectors, Gifted and talented, English Second Language and Special Needs groups. Marie has trained in the Scerts Model and ADI-R autism frameworks, Interactive Drawing Therapy and as a Level 4 Triple P facilitator. Marie continues to attend professional development particularly in relation to children facing literacy and general academic challenges. Marie supervises Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour on a regular basis.

In 2008 she set up a private practice ‘Kidz Psychology’ which in June 2011 changed its name to ‘Kidz Therapy’ reflecting the successful growth and extension of services offered. Marie is married and a mother of four, a daughter and son in their early twenties and two teenage sons.

Marie has a professional and personal interest in:

• Cognitive and educational assessments
• Reader and Writer assessments
• Learning preferences and styles including dyslexia and dyscalculia
• Special needs
• Reading comprehension
• Parenting and family life

Hilary Dixon

Postgrad Dip in Education Psychology, (Uni of Auck) MA (Honours), Uni of Auck, Bach of Arts, (Uni of Auck); Mem of NZ Psych Society; Post Grad Dip in Health Science -Advanced Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (AUT).

Hilary has been practicing at Kidz  Psychology/Therapysince 2008 providing assessment and support for children, young people and their families in the areas of social-emotional functioning, challenging behaviour and childhood disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Anxiety and Attention Deficit Disorder. Her experience of over 24 years within the field of education, psychology, and disabilities include working as an Educational Psychologist for Group Special Education, Ministry of Education -School Focus and Early Intervention Teams. Hilary’s role included working with pre-school and school age children with a range of special educational and behavioural needs, the provision of parenting courses and providing behaviour training to Early Childhood Centres and paraprofessional staff. Hilary continues to support parents whose children have been recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder via the Early Bird programme (Autism NZ). She is also a certificated Triple P Positive Parenting Programme practitioner (Level 4), and in the past has tutored for the Education Dept at Uni of Auckland, worked as an IHC preschool teacher and as a Research Fellow (Education Department, University of Auckland) in the evaluation of “Parents as First Teachers Pilot Project”. Hilary is a regular attendee at conferences and workshops and the mother of teenage twins and a primary aged son.

Areas of interest:

• Parent-child attachment and family relationships
• Families with children with special needs including developmental delay, emotional and behavioural needs, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and other childhood mental health disorders.
• Maternal Mental Health

Amrit Kaur

(Doctor of Clinical Psychology)

Clinical Psychologist (Reg)                                                                     

• PhD Clinical Psychology (Eastern Michigan University, USA)
• MSc Clinical Psychology (Eastern Michigan University, USA)
• B(Hons) Communication Studies (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

Amrit Kaur is a New Zealand-registered clinical psychologist who has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and experience practicing in the USA, Singapore and New Zealand.  Amrit previously worked as a journalist and magazine editor, but now provides empathetic assistance to people across the life span including children, adolescents, adults and senior citizens.

Amrit has significant experience providing assessments and interventions for children and families coping with a range of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and cancer, traumatic brain injuries and genetic disorders such as Seizure disorder, Klinefelter Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Encephalomyelitis and Cerebral palsy.

 Children plagued with health difficulties are assisted in identifying the sometimes subtle impacts of their disorders, and then assisted in tackling where possible the problems these present at home, in school and in their social lives. The children are also assisted in harnessing their capabilities in other areas to overcome specific challenges and encouraged to re-evaluate their identity and sense of self to reflect their individual strengths.

 Amrit believes in a strength-based approach to life’s many challenges, and works with a strong grounding in research-supported treatments. She has worked successfully with many children experiencing chronic health and genetic conditions, children debilitated by anxiety, children with severe behaviour and mood related problems and those with struggles with parental divorce and ADHD among others. She enjoys also working with teenagers on a range of issues including self-injury, school difficulties, eating disorders, addictions and poor self esteem.

Dr Amrit continues to be involved in research into mental health issues, and has a particular interest in working with clients and their families in a way that helps them progress beyond their existing limitations while also growing in their appreciation and acknowledgement of each other.  Amrit is available on a part time basis including Saturdays. 

Melinda Bekemeyer

 Psychologist (Reg) 

• Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology: Massey University
• Master of Educational Psychology (Hons): Massey University
• Master of Science: Communication Disorders (Hons) Northern Arizona University
• Bachelor of Science: Speech Pathology, double major Psychology, St. Louis University

Melinda is a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society, the New Zealand Speech Language Therapists Association, and the Northern Rural Nursing and Allied Health Professionals Consortium.   Melinda holds a certificate in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) through the International Baccalaureate Organization.  Melinda currently works privately as a Psychologist and Speech Language Therapist.  Melinda's primary focus throughout her career has been on providing comprehensive assessment and practical intervention for young people and their families.  

Melinda began her career as a Speech Language Therapist in both education and health settings in the United States. Following her arrival in New Zealand in 2001, Melinda worked for the Ministry of Education, Special Education Services as a Speech Language Therapist and subsequently also as a Psychologist.  In 2006-2007, Melinda was selected to head up the Learning Support Department of the International School of Amsterdam and gained valuable experience in that role.  More recently Melinda has worked with the Family and Criminal Court in providing psychological assessment and therapy for young people.

Additionally, Melinda provides psycho-educational testing and intervention for young people in schools.  Melinda has been involved in ongoing professional development such as; Interactive Drawing Therapy, Theory on Parent-Child Attachment, Complex Issues in Child Custody, and the Treaty of Waitangi.  Melinda lives in Kerikeri with her partner and two children.

Melinda has special interest and expertise in the following:

• Head Injury and children
• Social Communication
• Child Mental Health
• Psycho-educational assessment 
• Family Separation and custody
• Psychology and the Law