Meet the Team

My journey into this work began long before any formal qualification. Growing up with my own mental health challenges, later understanding my ADHD and Dyslexia, and raising two remarkable neurodivergent sons have profoundly shaped how I see people and healing. These experiences are woven into my therapeutic approach, allowing me to meet clients with genuine empathy, practical understanding, and deep respect for each person’s unique story.

From counselling rooms to workplaces, schools, and sports fields, I’m passionate about helping people move from surviving to truly thriving. I create grounded, compassionate spaces where individuals feel safe to explore their struggles, rediscover their strengths, and build lives that reflect who they really are. My work in mindfulness, stress management, and inclusive practice ensures clients feel valued, understood, and equipped with tools that create lasting change.

Professional Experience & Credibility

With over a decade of supporting diverse clients, I’ve become a trusted guide for those navigating life’s complexities. I have presented alongside nationally recognised leaders in clinical psychology, psychological medicine, child and adolescent mental health, and medical education, contributing applied clinical insight and lived-experience perspectives to multidisciplinary audiences of doctors, psychologists, and allied health professionals.

I’m also active in public conversation on wellbeing and inclusion. I have been interviewed on national television regarding workplace stress and resilience, featured in current-affairs programming on neurodiversity and community participation, and have contributed commentary on issues affecting Christchurch families and access to inclusive sport. These experiences reflect my commitment to ensuring psychological knowledge leads to real-world, accessible change.

Alongside face-to-face therapy, I offer online resources and structured courses so support continues beyond sessions—practical tools you can return to anytime, anywhere.

How I Work

I draw on an integrative range of evidence-based approaches, including:

Schema Therapy • Written Exposure Therapy • CBT • REBT • EMDR • NLP • Mindfulness (MBSR) • Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice

Therapy with me is never “one size fits all.” Together we’ll create a plan that fits your goals, your personality, and your pace—whether that’s healing trauma, understanding your ADHD, strengthening relationships, or finding your way through burnout.

Who I Support

I specialise in working with:

• Trauma and emotional wounds – helping you gently process the past so it no longer controls the present

• ADHD adults & neurodivergent minds – practical strategies that honour how your brain actually works

• Children and teens – building emotional awareness, confidence, and regulation in ways that feel safe, practical, and engaging, tailored to each young person’s strengths and needs

• Support for young people in sport – helping with sensory overload, performance pressure, and the mental load of competition, including game-day anxiety, sideline overwhelm, and post-loss regulation. I work collaboratively with parents, coaches, and schools to keep young people confident and connected to the activities they love. As an active member of community sport, I’ve seen firsthand how sport can shape confidence, connection, and wellbeing in young people’s lives.

• Men’s wellbeing – breaking stigma, building emotional literacy, and strengthening identity and purpose

• Couples & relationships – improving communication, repairing trust, and deepening connection

• Self-employed people and business owners – navigating burnout, boundaries, confidence, and the pressures of balancing work, relationships, and wellbeing

• Anxiety, burnout, stress, and life transitions – supporting resilience, clarity, and renewed direction

Sport & Performance Wellbeing

Sport should be a place where young people grow—not where anxiety or pressure pushes them out. I support children, teens, and athletes to stay engaged in the sports they love while learning to manage the emotional and sensory challenges that come with competition.

I help with:

• Sensory overload at training and game days

• Performance anxiety and fear of mistakes

• Emotional regulation after losses or setbacks

• Confidence slumps and negative self-talk

• Balancing sport, school, and family expectations

• Communication between athletes, parents, and coaches

My approach is practical and real-world focused, with tools that can be used on the sideline, in the changing room, and at home. I also work with clubs, coaches, and schools to create environments that support wellbeing without lowering expectations or enjoyment.

Let’s Take the Next Step

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply ready for change, there is a way forward—and I’d be honoured to walk it with you.

Book a consultation today to discover how therapy, coaching, and my online programs can help you build confidence, calm your nervous system, and create a life that truly fits.

Email: Daniel@wrightmind.co.nz
Phone: 027 261 5943
Online resources & courses: available through Wright Mind Wellbeing

Meet Saskia, our six-year-old Zuchon therapy dog, whose gentle presence brings comfort, connection, and calm to people of all ages. More than furry companionship, Saskia offers an intuitive, grounding energy that helps ease anxiety, lift spirits, and create moments of safety where words aren’t needed.

Whether offering a quiet cuddle, sitting alongside someone in distress, or bringing a playful spark into a room, Saskia connects in ways that feel natural and reassuring. She has supported people across medical practices, rest homes, schools, and workplace settings, demonstrating a remarkable ability to read emotions and respond with warmth and care.

Pegasus Health reflected on her impact:
“Saskia has become a valued part of the wellbeing support at Cashmere Health, helping patients and staff feel more relaxed, connected, and at ease. Her presence creates an immediate sense of comfort and helps open conversations that might otherwise feel difficult.”
— Pegasus Health community feature

Read more about her work and community impact here:
https://www.pegasus.health.nz/news/cashmere-health-therapy-dog

Saskia isn’t just a therapy dog—she’s a compassionate companion whose steady heart and wagging tail help people feel seen, soothed, and supported.