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Item The CAMHS referral process : the perspectives of school counsellors on the front line of youth mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Holland, AshleySchool counsellors are fundamental to supporting the mental health of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are crucial in not only providing primary care services but also for facilitating the referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) when counselling alone is not sufficient. Mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand is increasing in both prevalence and severity, rangatahi mirroring this nationwide trend. There are significant stressors influencing all key stakeholders involved with supporting rangatahi mental health, with strains on public mental health services such as CAMHS. There is a disparity between CAMHS nationwide, in both service and delivery processes. As school counsellors are responsible for many of the referrals made to CAMHS, this research study gathered perspectives from school counsellors to shed light on the current state of the referral process. Method: Participants completed a mixed methods designed online survey, and the responses were analysed using both descriptive statistical analysis and reflexive thematic analysis. Results: School Counsellors identified key areas of strengths, weaknesses and changes needed within the CAMHS service. A list of beneficial next steps for CAMHS was generated. Conclusion: There is a considerable need for a more responsive CAMHS referral process in Aotearoa New Zealand, catering for the increasing complexity and demand of rangatahi mental health. There are both strengths and weaknesses of the current CAMHS referral process, and with collaboration and cooperation with school counsellors they will be able to implement changes which will improve this process, benefiting vulnerable rangatahi.Item Hidden stories : exploring teachers’ experiences of family violence response and inter-agency collaboration in schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Neilson-Dyer, SusanThe introduction of the Family Violence Act (2018) marked a significant shift in legislative guidance for information-sharing and inter-agency collaboration, for the first time, naming schools as social agencies taking an active, collaborative role in family violence response, opening spaces to privilege the knowledge of teachers, positioning them as valuable stakeholders in inter-agency working. The current research aimed to explore teachers experiences of family violence response and collaborative opportunities through listening to the lived experiences of six primary school teachers who worked prior to and since the introduction of the Family Violence Act (2018), analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The identified themes of Spaces and Islands, Doing What is Right and Best, and Travelling with the Trauma revealed the isolation, institutional and professional limitations, and pain teachers experience when supporting children who have experienced family violence in their classroom due to a lack of information-sharing capabilities and collaborative interagency networks of support that persist despite the potentials the Family Violence Act (2018). The adaptive and creative strategies teachers employ to protect and support their students was also acknowledged, where they do what they can with heart and with passion within the limitations and constraints they face, at times placing themselves at risk to protect their students. The findings from this study highlight the commitment of teachers to student wellbeing, and the under-utilised, detailed student knowledge they can contribute to inter-agency family violence response measures in Aotearoa. Systemic change is required to recognise teachers and schools as valuable stakeholders in inter-agency networks of family violence response, and to mobilise their expert knowledge and experience to better support and protect children experiencing family violence in our communities. As the first research study in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore teachers’ lived experiences of family violence response, it is recommended that further study of teachers’ lived experience is required to continue contributing to our collective knowledge of inter-agency family violence response.Item Social privilege in the context of therapeutic groups : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Psychology), Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Peace, Charlotte E.In Aotearoa-New Zealand, mental health services are under strain, and group therapy is increasingly used as a modality that provides economic access to therapy to a large number of people. Therapeutic groups are typically diverse, comprised of a complex constellations of identity dimensions, values, and characteristics. Race, class, gender, sexuality, and religious positions confer privileges, marginalising those not occupying such dominant positions. Privilege can subsequently manifest as tension and conflict between individuals within therapeutic groups. Researchers have noted the need to study how privilege manifests and is managed in therapeutic groups. Furthermore, research tends to focus on oppression and marginalisation in therapy groups as the focal point to address, rather than on privilege as a cause of marginalisation and oppression. Through semi structured interviews, the researcher explores how eight group therapists understand and manage privilege in group therapy. Privilege emerges as relational, dynamic, and complex, presenting partial challenges to social microcosm theory. In therapeutic groups, privilege may not always be held by those who hold it on broader society. Therapists manage the potential risk of privilege having negative effects on group members, either through pre-emptively excluding some privileged people or utilising the exploration of its manifestations as a mechanism for individual change and growth. The findings support the need for targeted training in the understanding and management of privilege in group facilitation.Item Foster parent’s experiences caring for infants in Aotearoa/New Zealand : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, by distance, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Vere-Jones, SharleneWhile fostering of infants shares similarities with the fostering of older children, they also make unique demands on foster parents. Given that such infants often have encountered various forms of trauma, they further demand a specialised set of skills from those who foster them. Currently there is a large body of research related to the foster system and the provision of care. In particular this focuses on children’s experiences and needs, with a growing focus on foster parent experiences, though usually in relation to primary age children and adolescents. Less represented is research related to the foster parents of infants, especially in the context of Aotearoa-New Zealand (A-NZ). This study therefore aims to contribute to this latter area, by further developing our understanding of the experiences and insights of foster parents in A-NZ who foster infants. Accordingly, this thesis explores the experiences of seven A-NZ based sets of participants. The participants were interviewed about their experiences and the transcripts analysed using thematic analysis. Five main themes were subsequently developed: Motivation and commitment, Nurturing from bud to bloom, External elements, Wellbeing and functioning, and Network of supportive relationships. Interwoven across these themes is the core notion of Relationships and interactions. The analysis demonstrates that fostering infants is more than just caring for vulnerable high needs infants, it involves being part of a complex dynamic system, a system that needs to support, train and equip, listen and include, and recognise the special work and contribution such foster families make in A-NZ. The analysis highlights the specific resources and support that need to be made consistently available to enable foster parents of infants to give the best care possible.Item Child cancer counselling network evaluation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology, Massey University, New Zealand. EMBARGOED indefinitely.(Massey University, 2023) Murray, Houston BrookeThe existing literature surrounding childhood cancer and the psychological implications for the patient and their family, has provided strong evidence that there is a need for psychological support to the whole family unit through a child’s cancer journey. The Child Cancer Counselling Network (CCCN) was established in Aotearoa New Zealand to connect families in need with mental health providers around the country, either online or in person. The overall aim of this research was to evaluate the network from the perspective of the clinicians, which has not been done before. The research question is: “How do clinicians experience the Child Cancer Counselling Network?”. The objectives were to understand the value of the network from the perspective of the clinicians, get rich detailed information from clinicians who work for CCCN about their reasons for being involved, their backgrounds, and experience as a clinician and evaluate the CCCN looking at the clinicians perceptions of training, administration, interventions, and overall value of the programme. Research was conducted through the interview and analysis processes of the qualitative research method, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to provide the deep and rich lived experiences of the CCCN clinicians. Three core themes and additional subthemes were discovered. Core theme one is the clinicians reasons for being involved in the network through their heart reasons, lived experiences and self-care practices. Core theme two is the significant value of the network from the clinicians perspective, telehealth, and clients they saw. Core theme three is the procedures of the network with its unique training, stages which the services are used and clinician type. These core themes and sub-themes helped to achieve the research objectives of understand the value of the network from the perspective of the clinicians, gaining rich detailed information from clinicians who work for CCCN about their reasons for being involved, their backgrounds, and experience as a clinician and evaluating the CCCN looking at the clinicians perceptions of training, administration, interventions, and overall value of the programme. A child cancer journey is an extraordinarily challenging situation and the ability for these talented and passionate clinicians to assist in making this journey easier to navigate is vital in Aotearoa New Zealand.Item Supporting whānau through child cancer : an evaluation of the child cancer counselling network : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Bell, Esther JoyPurpose Child cancer can be considered to be a chronic traumatic event that challenges the functioning of the entire family unit. Whilst families may be well supported by medical teams and support services in hospital, there is often a lack of appropriate psychological support available in the community for those who prefer external support or whose child is not undergoing active treatment. In addition, research investigating the impact of counselling on child cancer parents is scarce. The purpose of this study was to contribute to an evaluation of the innovative Child Cancer Counselling Network (CCCN). In partnership with the Child Cancer Foundation, the CCCN provides free specialised counselling support across Aotearoa New Zealand either in-person or online, available to whānau at any point during their cancer journey. Method To evaluate the CCCN from parents’ perspectives, seven semi-structured interviews were carried out with child cancer mothers who had accessed the counselling. The resulting qualitative data was thematically analysed. Results Five major themes were found. ‘The Educated Outsider’ and ‘A Safe Space’, described qualities of ideal social support for child cancer families and what counselling was able to provide that their social networks and treatment centre could not. ‘Breaking Stigmas’ and ‘Optimising Access’ outlined ways that access to support services could be improved, including what did and didn’t work about the CCCN approach for the participants. Finally, Future Focus Areas identified potential improvements including Māori support, palliative support and investigations into other child conditions that don’t receive the same support as child cancer. Conclusion The qualitative accounts of participants illustrated a range of benefits they experienced from access to the CCCN service. Potential areas for development include enhanced palliative focus and ensuring best practice support for Māori. Provision of a short-term, flexible delivery, specialised counselling support service for child cancer families appears valuable to address gaps in support and shows potential as a translatable model for supporting other child conditions.Item Volunteer perspectives on working with imprisoned mothers in Aotearoa : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Loughnan, JenniferThis study seeks to better understand volunteers’ experiences when working with incarcerated mothers. This research explores the challenges and tensions volunteers negotiate doing this work, focusing on the social powers of gender, race, and class. The literature review argues that incarcerated mothers occupy the intersection of social powers; they are usually socioeconomically disadvantaged Māori mothers who represent one of Aotearoa’s most marginalised populations. My research seeks to answer the question: How does the unique perspective of the volunteers open up possibilities for change for imprisoned mothers? Reflective thematic analysis informed by feminist standpoint and intersectionality theory positions the volunteers as experts of their lived experience and recognises the complex intersections of social power on individuals’ lives. I interviewed 10 prison volunteers who worked with imprisoned mothers seeking to strengthen the connection between mothers and their children. Volunteers were transformed during this work. Perspectives on prisoners, prisons, and society are shifted, turning the volunteers into advocates for imprisoned mothers. Through this work, volunteers become conscientised to their own privilege, which they harnessed to mitigate the disadvantages of imprisoned mothers. By listening to the mothers and being subordinated by the institutional authority of the prison, volunteers developed a shifting trifurcated perspective of the challenges of imprisoned mothers. This unique perspective and situated knowledge allowed the volunteers to witness, describe, and provide practical solutions to some injustices the mothers faced while in prison. While volunteers concluded that prison does not work to keep people safe or rehabilitate, they recognised that transformational changes take time. They offered ameliorative solutions that could immediately alleviate the separation distress of imprisoned mothers and their children. My analysis recognises that prison volunteers’ knowledge can positively contribute to their own lives and the lives of imprisoned mothers, their children, and broader society.Item Maintaining balance for Christian counsellors when their work is a calling : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement of the Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2021) Frost, LeanneThe purpose of the study was to examine the daily lives of Christian Counsellors with a calling, with a view to understanding how they manage their work-non work boundaries. Calling is defined as perceiving a summons from an external source to any work that provides meaning and purpose, and which contributes to the greater good (Duffy, Dik, Douglass, England, & Velez, 2018). For Christian Counsellors maintaining balance is important as mental health demands increase and telehealth and working from home options become more utilised. Having a calling offers satisfaction, meaning and purpose, however it can also lead to overwork. This study was based on the framework of the Job Demands-Resources and Boundary Management Theory. Using a qualitative approach with seven experienced counsellors in Auckland, New Zealand, results showed for Christian counsellors calling can be both a demand and a resource. Demands were identified as a responsibility and duty to represent God to clients and to use relational gifts in the service of others which could lead to over-giving. A further demand was a desire to reveal God to clients constrained by Counselling Codes of Ethics. Resources were identified as a feeling of privilege and identity that was enriched by the call. Resources of being gifted relationally, with faith as a supportive strategy were identified. Boundary Theory identified participants have flexible permeable boundary styles and highly matching role personas making the need for deliberate boundaries important. Conversations revealed maintaining balance is supported by being deliberate, giving oneself permission with strategies for maintaining balance being learned across time.Item Acceptance and prayer intervention for adolescents with anxiety symptoms : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2021) Gill, DebbiePrevention programs are increasingly being sought for adolescents with anxiety in order to reduce the high prevalence rate of both anxiety and depressive disorders. Historically, empirically-validated interventions have not been used in combination with spiritually-based therapies (Jackson, 2020). This can mean that clients are left with their faith unaddressed in the therapeutic setting. Disturbances in an individual's faith can contribute to psychological distress (Ellison, Bradshaw, Flannelly, & Galek, 2014). This study aimed to address this gap in literature by incorporating prayer into an acceptance and commitment therapy-based therapeutic model. To test the hypothesis that anxiety in adolescents can be reduced by the introduction of acceptance-based coping skills, together with an acceptance-based prayer, a brief open trial intervention with a single group, in pre-test, post-test method was adopted. The results were analyzed using a mixed methods approach including paired-samples t-tests for the quantitative analysis, and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) following a semi-structured interview. The results showed a large effect (d = 2.58) in the direction of the hypothesis: anxiety in adolescents decreased with the introduction of acceptance and prayer. Secondary analysis also revealed significant reductions in depression (d = 1.98) and psychological inflexibility (d = 1.28). However, there was no difference in the resultant levels of mindfulness (d = -0.33). These results suggest that an acceptance-based brief intervention, together with prayer, may be helpful for adolescents with anxiety. However, further larger studies are warranted and should include randomization and a control group in order to confirm these findings.Item Responding to domestic violence : an exploration of the experiences of volunteers and paid staff at Victim Support : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2019) Leech, RoxanneDomestic Violence (DV) is a worldwide health and social problem and in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ), DV prevalence is high. Women are often over-represented as victims of DV and this serves as a reminder that, like the global picture, DV in Aotearoa NZ is a gendered issue. Providing support for women following DV incidents is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected. Despite many governmental and non-governmental agencies providing DV services, little research has explored the experiences of those individuals at the frontline who hold invaluable information on responding to DV. The aim of this study was to explore and understand the experiences of front-line DV responders, to understand the challenges and opportunities of their work to inform the DV service sector. The study was conducted at Victim Support, a not-for-profit organisation that provides a DV service for victims. Qualitative interviews with volunteers, support workers and supervisors working in a region with high DV rates were conducted and analysed from a feminist standpoint, using a descriptive thematic approach. The analysis identified that providing DV responses is both personal and emotional. Personal experiences shaped the responders’ understanding of DV and providing responses involved victims sharing emotional and personal experiences. Participants felt that the integral components of providing effective DV responses included: building rapport, strengthening trust, listening, and offering consistent support. Other characteristics like practicing empathy, patience and non-judgement, alongside self-awareness and collegial accountability ensured victims’ needs were put first. In addition to personal challenges involved in providing DV responses, participants also experienced difficulties related to the environments in which they work. Relying on volunteers to provide responses, high caseloads, working with other agencies and providing responses within the police-led community DV response system were related to how DV responses were experienced. Participants used personal strategies to overcome the barriers in providing effective DV responses. Strategies in managing high caseloads and building stakeholder relationships highlighted the resourcefulness of the women providing the responses. The analysis provides insights into the challenges involved in providing DV responses and potential solutions. The study has highlighted the need for more focus on removing obstacles to effective DV responses being provided by service providers, particularly those at the frontline of DV service provision.
