Therapists

​Therapists

Our therapists team includes Speech, Occupational and Dance and Movement Therapists. These specialists each have the qualifications and real-world experience needed to help your child overcome any challenges they may face.

Speech Therapists

Helen White

Helen White

Speech and Language Therapist (NZ reg.)

Dip Tchg; Dip Ed; MNZSTA


Helen works with students of all ages on speech-language therapy, active listening skills and thinking skills. She specialises in working with those who have auditory processing disorder. Helen uses a variety of approaches including Hyerle Thinking Maps, Costa’s Habits of Mind, de Bono, 3 Storey Intellect and Blooms Taxonomy. She has over 30 years’ experience in the fields of speech-language therapy and education.


During her time in the UK, Helen spent 20+ years as the Team Manager of the Speech and Language Centre in London. The centre became a model for other UK local authorities. They provided training for teachers and associated professionals in the language of the classroom and thinking skills. She also co-developed a programme to teach ‘Active Listening Skills’. At the request of the Commissioner for London Schools the programme was co-published in the book “Learning to Listen to Learn”.


​Previously, Helen was the Director of Advanced Learning and Head of Thinking Skills at a private Auckland secondary school. Helen is also an experienced facilitator. She has presented numerous workshops on speech language therapy and thinking skills.



Helen’s areas of specialty include:

  • Language processing difficulties
  • Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
  • Articulation difficulties
  • Dyspraxia and dyslexia and phonological awareness
  • Language delay
  • Learning strategies including memory and thinking skills
  • Active listening
  • Accent reduction

Occupational Therapists

Helen Coll

Helen Coll

Occupational Therapist

BHSc (OT)


Helen is an Occupational Therapist who has worked with children and adults of all ages. She has a background in Neurology and has worked clients who have a range of varying cognitive and fine motor disabilities.


Before joining Kidz Therapy, Helen has amassed a wide range of experience in both public and private healthcare. She has utilised her skills in outpatient, inpatient and community settings.


Helen facilitates our Lowercase Legends and Get Sorted courses. Here, she can draw on her past experience as a guest speaker at university lectures and running various groupwork programmes to make both courses a fun and engaging experience for children.

Dance and Movement Therapists

Helen Coll

Tanvi Anne Rodrigues

Dance Movement Therapist/ Creative Arts Therapist (NZ reg.)

MA DMT; Dip. DMT


The fundamental connection between the mind and body forms the basis of Tanvi's practice as a Dance Movement Therapist and Creative Arts Therapist. Her work integrates concepts of Polyvagal Theory, Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Analysis, Mindfulness and Authentic Movement. She adopts a multi-modal approach using a combination of creative movement, art and music to support each individual’s mental health.


Employing a trauma-informed lens and person-centric approach, Tanvi has worked with neurodiversity since 2019. She has worked with different age groups in schools, clinical environments and other therapeutic settings.


Tanvi's experience includes delivering individual and group interventions to neurotypical and neurodiverse children, teenagers and young adults in various areas: 

  • Social skills
  • Self expression 
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Emotional regulation 
  • Developmental trauma 
  • Movement vocabulary 


Tanvi believes in creating a collaborative therapeutic approach to empower the individual’s holistic wellbeing, together with their whanau, framed within a culturally sensitive perspective. She works with each individual's own strengths and cultivates behaviour support frameworks to address their challenges.


Tanvi is a registered Dance Movement Therapist with DTAA (Dance Therapy Australasia) as well as a registered Creative Arts Therapist with ANZACATA (The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association).

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