Shelley de Graaf
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Shelley is an educational and developmental psychologist who has experience working with children, adolescents, and their families in a range of settings. She is a passionate advocate for ensuring that children and young people access the support they need to thrive. Taking a collaborative and client-led approach, Shelley focuses on empowering children and adolescents to build self-esteem, develop resilience, and learn the necessary coping tools to navigate life’s challenges effectively.
Shelley is experienced in providing a range of assessments and therapeutic interventions. She draws from a range of evidence-based practices and therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and developmental psychology.
Modalities:
- CBT - Cognitive behavioural therapy
- ACT - Acceptance and commitment therapy
- ABT - Applied behavioural therapy
- Mindfulness
- Therapy appointments available on Mondays at Kidz Therapy New Lynn
- Educational Psychology Assessment at Kidz Therapy Centre Morningside
Therapeutic interests:
Specialist advice and strategies for a range of needs including:
- Behavioural challenges:
- school refusal
- disruptive behaviour
- peer relationships/social skills
- perfectionism
- Emotional dis-regulation:
- easily overwhelmed
- frequent mood shifts
- intense emotional reactions
- easily upset
- Anxiety
- Executive functioning issues:
- self-organisation
- impulse-control
- task initiation
- Support plans to support children with:
- Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia etc
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Shelley is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist with an extensive background in early childhood education. She is experienced in providing a range of assessments for children and adolescents, including cognitive, educational and behavioural assessments.
Prior to working at Kidz Therapy, Shelley worked in the Ministry of Education Learning Support team, working in primary, intermediate and high school settings. She supported high-needs students and their families and schools with a range of strategies to meet their behavioural, developmental and learning needs across both home and school environments.
Shelley takes a strengths-based approach to assessment and intervention and is a passionate advocate for ensuring children access that support they need to thrive.
Shelley is an accredited Triple P Stepping Stones provider and Bricks Group facilitator.
Kidz Therapy New Lynn
Access & parking
- 2 hours free parking available on Level 1 in the McCrae Way car park for Totara Health visitors.
- Please enter your registration details into the pay machine. Two tickets will be printed - display one on your dashboard, and hand the second ticket in at the Totara Health Services reception
- Lifts are located opposite the stairs on each level should you prefer to use them. If taking the lift, we are located across the hall to your right as you leave the lift.
From McCrae Way Carpark
- From level 1 of the car park walk across the air bridge into the Totara Health Services building.
- Hand the second parking ticket in at the Totara Health Services reception (on your right hand side when you cross the air bridge).
- Take the stairs on your left after you have passed reception to
level 2.
- Our room is located to your left, within the Waitakere Foot Clinic.
- Please take a seat at the far end of the waiting room.
From street level on McCrae Way
- Enter through the Totara Health signposted doors (next to the Health New Lynn Pharmacy).
- Walk up two flights of stairs to level 2.
- Our room is located to your left, within the Waitakere Foot Clinic.
- Please take a seat at the far end of the waiting room.
Ready to get started?
Let's talk about how we can support your child, your family, your organisation.
