Faculty Personnel

Brenda Levien (Christchurch)

Registered Psychotherapist

NZRN, Dip G.Psych, MNZAC, MNZAP, Fellow Member of GANZ

Brenda has 30 years experience working with people as a nurse, counsellor and Gestalt Therapist and has been on the Teaching Faculty since 1993. She has a successful private practice and also works as an organisational consultant.  Brenda has been engaged with the development of GANZ (Gestalt Australia & New Zealand) and on Council over the last 10 years. She is currently a member of the ethics committee, and most recently, the editorial board of the Gestalt Journal of Australia and New Zealand. She is a guest trainer for the Gestalt Institute of Western Australia and Gestalt Therapy Practitioners Sydney. She was elected the NZAP Council in March 2007. She has a passionate belief in people’s innate abilities to find creative solutions to life’s challenges and a strong interest in how gestalt theory and practice can by used in a variety of ways within the community.

FACULTY

Stephen trained as a Gestalt therapist in England and has over ten years experience as a psychiatric nurse specialising in children and teenagers.  He has been on the Teaching Faculty since 1991. He works full time at True Colours Charitable Trust with children and teenagers who have serious chronic and terminal illness. Stephen is a keen musician and has trained in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in Auckland. He is also a guest trainer for the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Western Australia. 

Maria Bowden (Dunedin)

Maria's early professional life includes an extensive history as a social worker and educator.  Maria has been in private practice since 1994 and is a graduate of G.I.N.Z.  Her strengths include long term work; particularly in the area of abuse. Maria currently works with individuals; couples; groups and organisations as a therapist; trainer and supervisor. Maria has a personal and professional commitment to holistic health and wellbeing. She supports and encourages good relationships through awareness and honesty with oneself and in relation to others.

Virginia Edmond (Wellington)

Registered Psychotherapist

MA, Dip Teaching, Cert TEFL, Dip G Psych, MNZAP, MGANZ

Virginia was a teacher before becoming a psychotherapist. She taught English to speakers of other languages in New Zealand and in the Middle East. Virginia graduated from the Gestalt Institute in February 1999 and is now in private practice in Wellington. She works with individuals and couples as well as offering supervision. Virginia has additional training in body oriented psychotherapy from a Gestalt perspective as well as in Bioenergetics.  

Stella McDonald (Dunedin)

Registered Psychotherapist

Dip G Psych, MNZAC

Stella graduated from the Gestalt Institute in 1998 and since then has operated a private practice in Dunedin offering individual psychotherapy, Reiki, bodywork and latterly supervision.    She has been a local tutor for the Institute for 6 years, training both entry level and senior students in the Dunedin groups.

LOCAL TRAINERS

Dinah Cameron (Dunedin)

Registered Psychotherapist

Dip G Psych, Dip Bus Admin, B Ed, Dip Teaching, MNZAC

Dinah is a Gestalt psychotherapist in private practice in Dunedin.  She works with couples and individuals and see’s people for group and individual supervision.  Dinah also co-facilitates a stage 1 Gestalt training group.  She has an enthusiasm and excitement for this work that continually leads her into more awareness of the processes involved.  Dinah enjoys reading widely and takes rest and relaxation very seriously.

Dip. Teaching, Dip G Psych, MNZAC

Lynley graduated from GINZ in 2003 and since then has worked as a therapist in private practice in Dunedin. Lynley brings with her 10 years experience working with people who have intellectual disabilities and maintains a part time position in this field. She is a passionate advocate for making professional supervision available to people working in support roles.

Felisa Roldan (Wellington)

MBChB (Spain), MRCPsych (UK), Affiliate ANZCPsych (NZ), MGANZ

Felisa graduated from medical school in Spain in 1988 and then moved to England where she trained as a Psychiatrist becoming a Member of Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1993. Felisa worked in a UK Psychotherapy unit until 1995, when she moved to New Zealand pursuing her interest in psychotherapy. In 1999 she graduated as a Gestalt Therapist and has worked as a consultant psychiatrist with an interest in psychotherapy for the last 11 years. Currently she is the consultant psychiatrist at the Regional Eating Disorder Service in Wellington.

Darren Cuskelly (Christchurch)

Dip G Psych, BA Soc Sci, Dip Soc Sci, MGANZ, MNZAC

Darren graduated from GINZ in 2008 and is currently chair of international relations on the GANZ council. Darren has 20years experience in the community service industry and worked as a family counsellor in Australia for 6 years prior to relocating to NZ.

He is an Australian by birth and has lived, with his wife Liz, in New Zealand since 2003. He is based in Christchurch and currently works as a Service Manager for IHC, and as a Gestalt Psychotherapist at a counselling centre and in a small private practice. His interests are in relationships—how do we come together whilst maintaining our differences?

Lindy Elliot (Christchurch)

Dip G Psych. NZRN. PBANZ, MGANZ

Lindy comes from a long background of ophthalmic nursing where she worked whilst completing her training with GINZ in 2007. She works as a psychotherapist in private practice and also with a community agency.  Lindy has a passion for groups and with a colleague, facilitates graduate nursing groups in understanding group process, how we relate to one another and what we bring into our relationships with the other.