"I am lucky to love what I do and I am forever dedicated to your circle of trust." Meet Rhian Collings, the Founder and Director of Blossom Psychology and Therapy Services. With a genuine love for her profession, Rhian considers herself fortunate to do what she loves and is unwaveringly dedicated to earning and maintaining your circle of trust. Specialising in supporting neurodiverse individuals since 2011, Rhian's expertise extends to working alongside neurotypical populations and contributing to brain injury rehabilitation. Recognized across the disability, health, and education sectors, including front-line schooling and academia, Rhian's impact has reached globally, fostering the growth of Blossom's client base. "I am fortunate to work in a profession I am deeply passionate about. My commitment revolves around supporting individuals, their whanau, and support teams to create a comprehensive system focused on skill development and growth. Each journey with the individuals I support is a treasure, with every success, big or small, celebrated. I am dedicated to ensuring that the individuals and families I support can cultivate the skills and tools needed to flourish and ultimately enhance their lives. As a sun-chaser and exercise enthusiast, I firmly believe in the power of the circle of trust, with family being the greatest circle of all."

"I enjoy the high energy and creativity when working with young people" Meet Stacie who has been a Speech and Language Therapist for over 8, gaining her Masters of Speech and Language Therapy Practice from The University of Auckland. She has worked across both public and private settings in New Zealand and overseas. “I have always had an interest in languages and threw myself into these classes at school. However, when practicing, I often struggled and found myself in many situations that ended with communication breakdown. Luckily I have my first language to fall back on, but this led me down the path of wanting to help those who, for whatever reason, face difficulty communicating and sharing their thoughts, ideas, needs and wants in the language(s) they speak. My background is in the education setting and I enjoy the high energy and creativity that is involved with working with children and young people. What I find most rewarding is seeing parents and caregivers building their confidence to try different ways of interacting and communicating, as well as seeing their child or young person using their new communication skills. I love to travel (near and far), but find spending time by the coast the most relaxing.”

"I feel proud to support the families I work alongside" Meet Nick who has Masters in Psychology and is currently pursuing his Post Grad Diploma in Applied Psychology as an Intern Psycghologist. "I have been working with children for the past four years. During my first year working in a teacher aide position, I discovered a passion for working with children to help develop their skills to be independent and thrive at school. I now work with a variety of individuals focusing on developing their academic, communication, social, and daily living skills to help them succeed in all aspects of life. I feel proud to support the families I work alongside and love seeing the progress his learners and their families make together. In my spare time, I enjoy the outdoors, participating in a variety of sports including soccer, golf, surfing, and fishing."

"I value continuous growth, independence and of course fun!” Meet Ana has completed her Conjoint Bachelor’s degree, a Postgraduate Diploma and is currently pursuing her Master’s year specialising in Behavioural Psychology, at UoA. Ana has experience as a support worker for adults in crime and trauma, as well as a teacher aide and a graduate teaching assistant. I am always enthusiastic when working with young people. I think fun is the secret ingredient to getting individuals engaged and enjoying their learning progress. I love sharing experiences, working and building connections alongside individuals with their families, as it is most rewarding to see them grow and blossom further. A strong part of who I am is being creative and to spread high energy with people I work with. I’m glad this job allows me to challenge and showcase one of my various talentfor the benefit of others. Of course, you will find me having fun outside of work, knowing I’ll get lost somewhere…but still love to explore, cooking for others, singing, swimming, kayaking and lastly quality time with my loved ones.

"I am passionate about supporting people to reach their milestones" Meet Jessica Bines. Jessica is a Registered Psychologist who completed her education at the University of Auckland specialising in Applied Behaviour Analysis in 2021. Jessica began working in the field in 2017 as a registered behaviour technician implementing behavioural therapy in home and educational settings. Jessica has had previous professional experience working in private and government organisations as the psychologist and case leader to support children, adolescents and their parents across home and educational settings, and adults in supported living settings. "I believe strongly, that for our children and loved ones to thrive, we must consider how their environments can best set them up for success. In addition to this, we must support them to learn the skills that will provide them with the tricks and tools they need. Everyone should have the opportunity to access experiences and make connections that bring them joy! I am passionate about supporting people to reach their milestones and it is a privilege to be one member of that person's village! Values that are integral to the work that I do include person and family centred goals, empowerment and respect. I aim to ensure that the people and important stakeholders that I support are included, collaborated with, listened to and uplifted during services. When I take my professional hat off, I enjoy gardening while my cat helps pull the weeds, and demolishing a block of Whittaker’s while watching a good rom com on the TV. "

"Being invited into your internal world is a privilege I deeply respect." Meet Emily Millward, specialising in grief and loss with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Psychotherapy, enhancing her skills in relational psychotherapy of the unconscious mind. Emily offers a holistic approach, incorporating mind-body connections through nervous system regulation as she incorporates her years of experiencing teaching meditation and yoga. With experience in government sectors, Emily supported agencies in supporting children reaching developmental milestones while aiding parents in their personal struggles. Her hospital work focused on creating support for families experiencing abuse and trauma. As the founder of wellness retreats, Emily looks at the whole person and all four pillars that make up being well using a psychosomatic approach in her sessions. "Experiencing grief occurs on various levels. Sometimes, we need support in processing both conscious and hidden emotions. As parents and siblings of a neurodiverse child, personal needs can be overlooked while providing support. My role is not only to guide you through grief but also to foster an environment where your unique challenges are understood and addressed. Together, we can navigate the emotional complexities, ensuring that your journey towards healing is comprehensive and supportive. My ethos includes supporting others to be able to give from a full cup"

“It’s a privilege to walk alongside the people I support and their families” Meet Katharine who has a Masters Degree in Developmental and Educational Psychology from the University of Auckland. She has also completed a post graduate diploma specialising in behavioural science and is currently completing her internship to become a registered psychologist. She has supported people of all ages and has a special interest in working with children and adolescents to build skills they can take with them throughout life. “It’s a privilege to walk alongside the people I support and their families. As a parent of two neuro-atypical children that required support, I am passionate about not only supporting the young person to develop skills for a fulfilling life, but also supporting and encouraging their families. I understand what it feels like to be a parent needing help for your child. I love to see the joy of mastering a skill on the faces of the young person and their family members. When I am not studying or working, I love to spend time in the kitchen, in my veggie garden, hanging out with my family, and sampling coffee (and the odd cheese scone) from all the cafes across Auckland. We also love to travel as a family and we’re usually planning a trip!”

"It's truly an honor to be part of your journey." Meet Mineli, who has earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Otago, with exciting plans for further study. Her journey into this field began with a rewarding experience working with a neurodiverse adolescent, where she focused on fostering independence and communication skills. This experience ignited a passion within for making a positive impact in this realm. I'm deeply driven by the opportunity to foster meaningful connections within a supportive environment. Every day, I'm motivated by the chance to witness and contribute to your growth, celebrating victories—no matter how big or small. It's truly an honor to be part of your journey. Outside of work, you'll often find me cherishing quality moments with loved ones, trying my hand at baking (with questionable results!), immersing myself in a good book, or enjoying the great outdoors through hiking or biking. Let's embark on this journey together, bringing energy, heart, and a spirit of celebration to every session!

“I love seeing the progress of family communication and relationships...” Meet Veronica who has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from California State University of Long Beach emphasizing in child development and neurotypical psychology coursework. She has over 4 years of experience working alongside clinical psychologists and registered BCBA’s conducting 1:1 and group therapy. Throughout her career she has undergone multiple training sessions related to this therapy as well as Trauma Responsive training and Crisis Prevention. “I started my journey working at a primary school in Long Beach California and loved the creativity and fun children brought to my everyday life. From there I gravitated towards working with neurotypical students and eventually branched out to working at a day program for adults with various special needs. I then decided to continue my journey and started conducting in-home therapy sessions with family members and clients. My career experience so far has allowed me to work with multiple age groups while making strong connections with my clients. Being able to witness growth of independence and confidence is something I hold close to my heart. I love seeing the progress of family communication and relationships and feel lucky every time I’m able to help bring skills to enhance that. When I’m not working, you'll find me at the beach surfing, hanging out with family and friends or spending time with my new puppy Izzy!”

"I love my job...I get to teach skills that have a meaningful, positive impact" Meet Connie who has a Master's in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Post Grad Diploma in Applied Psychology as an Intern Psycghologist. She has been working in the area for 5 years. "I love my job because I get to teach skills that have a meaningful, positive impact on my clients' lives. My favourite part of the job is getting to celebrate the small wins that lead to huge successes. I like to bring honesty, creativity, and a sense of humour to my work. Being organised keeps me sane. I thrive on a bit of healthy competition. I'm a full-time servant to my mischievous, tail-less cat Lemmy. I like to spend time in the gym, playing netball, decorating cakes and travelling."

"I love teaching life skills and providing engaging experiences that empower individuals to reach their full potential." Meet Bhavani who holds a counselling degree from India, a Postgraduate Diploma, and a Master's in Psychology. Before joining blossom Bhavani has worked in a home supporting individuals with disabilities, as well as a school for children with additional needs. “I am passionate about supporting individuals with different needs and helping them live independent and fulfilling lives. I love teaching life skills and providing engaging experiences that empower individuals to reach their full potential. My work is driven by my belief that everyone has value and capabilities, and I am committed to making a real difference in the lives of those I serve. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, entertaining friends, and spending time with my cat, Muffin. I also enjoy going for hikes and reading in my free time.”

"I find immense joy in supporting young people to remove barriers and gain access to activities they enjoy" Meet Gaby, who has a Masters in Psychology. "I have had the privilege of working with neurodiverse youth over several years, in schools, within the community, and in vocational settings. I find immense joy in supporting young people to remove barriers and gain access to activities they enjoy. I believe that each person possesses unique strengths that shine through regardless of the level of support they require. I love any opportunity to get outside, especially swimming in the ocean, rock climbing, and walking in the forest. Nature has a way of grounding me and providing the perfect backdrop for reflection and rejuvenation."