Happy Valley Therapy Services

For Mental Health Therapy and Horse/Human Development

"The Key to Well Being is Well Doing"

About

Gail completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences/Occupational Therapy at Auckland University of Technology in 2001.  She has worked in the UK and NZ in a variety of mental health settings including community, inpatient and forensic.
In 2009 she completed her first Post Graduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. In 2021 Gail completed her second Post Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Gail also has a range of other certifications in modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Somatic interventions, Family Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy.

Gail is a keen horsewoman and has always been fascinated by the horse/human connection and this lead to her becoming Advanced Dual Certified as a Mental Health Professional and Equine Specialist with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
www.eagala.org 

Gail is also a student of the Equusoma model of Horse- Human Trauma Recovery which utilizes Polyvagal and Attachment Theory alongside Somatic and Mindfulness approaches to trauma recovery for horses and humans.
www.equusoma.com 

NZ Board of Occupational Therapy Registration number: 50-03798
ACC Provider Number: 12CPFA

Professional Memberships:
New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapist
Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapists
Adventure Therapy Aotearoa
New Zealand Association of Family Therapy
Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.

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Services

Therapy Services

Gail can help with conditions such as anxiety, social phobia, panic disorder, riders anxiety, depression, low mood, neurodiversity, trauma and addiction issues. Gail will guide you through the therapy, enabling you to explore the drivers of the condition that are individual to you, and empower you to take action in making changes, with her support and guidance. Sessions available online, in office, in nature. Gail is registered as an ACC Provider and provides Training for Independence programs under the Sensitive Claims contracts. Gail covers the Bay of Plenty. Lakes and Waikato region.

Equine Assisted Therapy

Gail is Advanced Certified in the Eagala Model as both a Mental Health Professional and Equine Specialist and has been practicing in this specialist area for over 10 years. Not all people feel comfortable with ‘traditional talking therapies’ so Equine Assisted Therapy offers a great alternative. Gail is a member of Adventure Therapy Aotearoa and enjoys incorporating animals, nature and experiential therapy into her sessions and believes that horses in particular can demonstrate how we can work with our nervous systems to affect positive change. Eagala Model Equine Assisted Therapy - in partnership with Aspire Therapy and based at the RDA in Welcome Bay is available for individuals, groups and families. Limited paddock and horse based sessions available in Whakamarama for mood, anxiety, trauma and emotional regulation therapy. Why horses? A lot of individuals, especially those who have experienced trauma, can find office based talk therapies too direct and retraumatizing. Moving the therapy to the arena or paddock with the horses allows the clients to engage in an experiential way of being in the now, connecting to themselves and the horses on a more somatic level and allowing the experience to unfold with the support and guidance of the facilitators. Via this process clients can start to unravel the barriers that are holding them back and develop more insights, awareness and understanding in order to move forward. The horses are amazing conduits for teaching us how to be present and sit with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and find a way through, enabling post traumatic growth.

Supervision/Mentoring/Life and Career Coaching

*Clinical Supervision for Mental Health Professionals *Practice Supervision for Equine Specialists *Mentoring for setting up your own Equine Assisted Therapy/Development Program *Coaching to work out the 'next steps' in your life or career, using the Coach Approach Note: Sessions available online/in person

Sensory Assessments

Sensory assessments available for those aged 11 years and over utilizing the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile. You will be asked to complete a 60 item questionnaire, answer some questions regarding your current occupational performance and will be provided a report of your sensory preferences and recommendations.

Contact

  • Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Please contact for prices - packages available. Funding may be available for limited sessions.