Wendy Ryan (Psychologist)

Overview

Wendy has been working as a psychologist for almost a decade. She was originally a teacher in South Africa and then changed course after moving to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2010. She retrained in educational psychology - which focuses on understanding human behaviour, learning and wellbeing.  Wendy has experience with and enjoys working with neurodivergent people. She enjoys working with children and adults.

Skills and Experience

Wendy has worked in the education, disability and mental health sectors. She has gained a lot of experience and knowledge about Autism, ADHD, people’s learning and patterns of behaviour, brain injury, attachment and the impacts of trauma or adverse childhood experiences, among others.

Wendy is skilled in supporting people using motivational interviewing, collaborative problem-solving, behaviour analysis, solutions-focussed psychology, graded exposure, and narrative therapy approaches. Wendy takes a holistic, strengths-based view of people, looking at their environment, support system and what their strengths and challenges are.

Approach to Supervision

Wendy has supervised psychologists and other professionals (counsellors, behaviour support professionals, youth workers) over the years. She has done training on solutions-focused supervision, and the reflective learning model of supervision. Wendy takes a practical, reflective, strengths-based approach. The focus is on building your confidence and competence through supported problem-solving and continual learning.

Wendy upholds the principles of Te Tiriti ō Waitangi in her work and aims to make supervision a safe space where one feels comfortable to reflect on one’s practice or work.