ABOUT ME
My name is Rike (pronounced Reeka), and I am passionate about helping people overcome the challenges impacting their mental health. My focus is to tailor each treatment to best suit your needs and circumstances, with the overall goal of increasing your wellbeing. I pride myself on being practical and pragmatic in my approach. My primary focus is to make every session meaningful, providing insight or a new perspective that facilitates change. I aim to create a supportive, compassionate environment where clients feel encouraged and hopeful.
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I grew up in Germany, where I gained a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, graduating in 2000, then I completed a 5-year post-graduate training as a counsellor. I’ve lived in New Zealand since 2011, and have continued to broaden my skills
through ongoing education and training. I am registered with the SWRB (Social Worker Registration Board) and the DAPAANZ (Drug and Alcohol Practitioner Association Aotearoa NZ). In 2023, I earned a post-graduate certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Otago University.
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Over the last 25 years, I’ve gained extensive experience working in a variety of settings as a social worker, mental health clinician, addictions counsellor, and Health Improvement Practitioner.
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As a registered social worker, I adhere to the Code of Conduct, which covers standards of behaviour, integrity, and conduct for professional social workers. It’s a requirement to participate in regular training to maintain my registration, which protects you under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.