Vanessa Summers

Kia ora, I’m Vanessa (she/her). I moved to beautiful Te Whanganui-a-Tara in January 2024 from the UK. I grew up between the UK and Italy so it is exciting to now call Aotearoa home.

I have worked in mental health settings for the past 8 years. Before moving to Aotearoa New Zealand I worked in the UK’s National Health Service as a cognitive behavioural therapist (CBT).

I enjoy working with people from a range of backgrounds and experiences. You are welcome regardless of your age, race, gender, ability, sexuality and/or neurodiversity. I primarily work with people experiencing depression and/or anxiety difficulties such as social anxiety, low self-esteem, generalised anxiety, panic, OCD, health anxiety, trauma, phobias, stress and sleep difficulties.

My aim is to support you to gain a better understanding of why your difficulties developed and how they are maintained. We then focus on learning skills to overcome them now and managing future challenges.

Outside of work I am a keen gardener, cook and walker. I love learning new skills so 2025 is the year of sewing and yoga!

• BSc Psychology
• PGCert in psychological interventions with children and young people
• PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Provisional member - DAPAANZ