About me

I am a Clinical Psychologist and a Child Psychologist based in Wellington CBD. I came to New Zealand from Italy in 2012. I worked for two years as clinical psychologist at Child Adolescent and Family Service (CAFS), Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

Since 2014 until October 2018, I worked with nongovernment organizations specialized in meeting the mental health needs of clients with refugee background, first in Auckland, and then in Wellington. The work consisted of delivering mental health services to former refugee from various ethnic groups and nationalities (e.g., Burmese, Afghans, Iraqi, Ethiopians, Syrians, Eritreans, etc.). I dealt with clients of different cultural and religious backgrounds such as Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. All my former refugee clients have traumatic experiences caused by torture, war, oppressive regimes and ethnic, religious and/or political persecutions.

After working with clients of refugee background, I was employed as Clinical Psychologist of Health Pasifika located in Kenepuru Hospital from October 2018 to July 2023. Health Pasifika is a specialized mental health service for Pasifika people who live in the Wellington area.

I am currently working as a full-time private practitioner. I am an ACC registered clinical psychologist for Sensitive Claims. This means that I provide psychological interventions and psychotherapy to clients who are victims of sexual abuse. I am also an EAP provider through Clearhead, Enstep EAP and Work Place Option.

I am of Filipino origin. I obtained my degrees in Psychology, Psychotherapy/Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and Theology in Rome, where I lived for more than 20 years. I practised the profession in Rome for several years before coming to New Zealand.

I have extensive knowledge and experience in treating various disorders such as Mood, Anxiety and Developmental Disorders in both children and adults. I have competence in assessing and treating Stress and Stress Related Disorders such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, and Adjustment Disorder in all age range.

I do psychological interventions that are culturally sensitive and safe. Whilst I specialized in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, my preferred approach is Schema Therapy. I also employ other treatment models such as ACT, Mindfulness, psychodynamic approach, brain-based therapy, and Client Centred Therapy. I believe that the human mind is too complex to be understood and treated by one single model.

I favour an integrated approach of therapy that takes into consideration the various aspects of your life like the physical, the mental, the social, and the spiritual dimension. I do therapy in different languages: English, Italian, Filipino, and Cebuano. I am also experienced in doing therapy with an interpreter.