Qualifications

    • Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling - 2025

    • Bachelor of Arts - Humans Services, Psychology 2022-2024

    • Certificate in Health Coaching Science 2023-2024

    • Certificate in Coaching Practice 2023-2024

    • Certificate in Mindfulness Facilitation 2023

Bachelor of Arts - Human Services, Psychology

University of Canterbury

2022

PSYC105 Psychology - Brain, Behaviour and Cognition

Department: Psychology, Speech & Hearing

An introduction to the brain and its role in thought and behaviour, and to perception, learning and cognition. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to define some of the key terms, why people might behave the way they do, and the mental processes that give rise their behaviour as well as discuss, at an elementary level, how experimental methods are used to acquire scientific knowledge in psychology. Students will demonstrate the ability to read original journal articles and interpret research writing in psychology, explore some classic phenomena in psychology for themselves and develop insight into their own core values and life purpose.

PSYC106 Psychology - Social, Personality and Developmental

Department: Psychology, Speech & Hearing 

An introduction to five major domains: personality, abnormal, social, developmental, and industrial/organisational psychology including the different research methods used in each domain. On successfully passing this course, students will have learned some of the terms used with understanding of key concepts and theories. Students will have practiced effective study skills as well as some of the research techniques in the laboratory that are used to gain scientific knowledge in psychology. They will have demonstrated elementary abilities in handling quantitative data in psychology, including how to write clearly about research procedures and data in a research report.

HSRV103 Human Services  - Violence in Society

Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

An introduction to the contemporary issue of violence in society and its impact on the community. A broad overview of five main areas of violence: child protection; family violence; youth violence; institutional and cultural violence; and, crime and deviance. The problem of violence has become one of the most critical concerns of our society, affecting people of all ages, across all cultures and social groupings.  This course will introduce students to the contemporary issue of violence in society and its impact on the community. The course provides students with an opportunity to develop theoretical and research informed knowledge and an appreciation of human service responses to this issue. The course will also teach students to analyse the diversity of factors that influence national and international programme development and policies.  Course content covers a range of topics: human rights; child protection; family violence; youth violence; violence toward animals; institutional and cultural violence; and, crime and deviance.

    HSRV104 Human Services - Youth Realities

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    An introduction to the diverse realities of ‘youth’ with a focus on multiple contexts Students explore the concept of youth and the cultural, historical, political and economic contexts in which young people live and the decisions that they make. We critically consider the issues that place young people outside the margins of dominant society, and the responses, models and theoretical frameworks used in youth studies. 

    LING102 Linguistics - Language & Society

    Department: Language, Social and Political Sciences

    In this course we consider a range of research from the field of linguistics and examine the relationship between language and our social lives. The role of language experience will emerge as a recurrent theme: the experience that the infant has with a particular language; how our early experience with language affects how we speak and how we listen, and how our beliefs about language are created and maintained in connection to other experiences in our social lives. 

    HLTH101 Health - Introduction to Health Studies

    Department: Humanities & Creative Arts

    Social, economic, cultural, environmental and psychological factors affect the health of people living in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this course, students develop strategies for gathering information about causes of ill health, investigate effects of ill health, and evaluate the effectiveness of health-related policies and interventions. During the second part of the course expert guest lecturers introduce their research on mental well-being, adolescent health, and problematic substance use. Students use local and international research to investigate a health problem and present that research in a well-structured, well-referenced report.

    SCIE101 Science - Science & Society

    Department: Faculty of Science

    In this foundational course, we examine stimulating questions such as what science is, who does science, how is science practiced, how do science, culture and society interact and how science is communicated to differing audiences. This course will draw on a variety of historical and contemporary case-studies, leading edge research, ethical challenges and controversial issues. Students will gain an understanding of the civic roles, responsibilities and influence of science in our Maori, New Zealand, and global communities. Students will learn how to work effectively as a team and communicate successfully to communities and end-users. Students will learn what it means to be a successful scientist in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the world in the 21st century.

    WRIT101 Writing - Writing for Academic Success

    Department: Humanities & Creative Arts

    This course fosters the capacity for analytical thought about texts and language. provides training in the writing of clear and effective prose. It inculcates awareness of crucial structural and rhetorical features of expository writing, and encourages the application of that awareness to writing in a range of academic and professional contexts.

     

    2023

    PSYC214 Psychology - The Science & Practice of Wellbeing

    Department: Psychology, Speech & Hearing

    The Science and Practice of Wellbeing will introduce students to the psychological science and practice of wellbeing. It will draw on psychological theory, research evidence, and practical techniques to help them understand the factors that create flourishing individuals, communities, and societies. Psychological models of wellbeing will be introduced and critically evaluated. The course will teach about empirically validated holistic methods of improving mental wellbeing. It will provide an understanding of current theoretical models and research evidence regarding the factors that promote the capacity for people to thrive. This course diverts from a more traditional focus on illness to one on health, from what causes us to experience distress and suffering to what protects us against distress and assists with flourishing, and from a focus on eliminating problems to cultivating strengths.

    PSYC207 Psychology - Developmental

    Department: Psychology, Speech & Hearing

    This course will examine human development from conception to late adolescence, and will cover neuropsychological, cognitive, biological, behavioural and socio-emotional development. Emphasis will be given to major theoretical influences that have shaped current thinking about child and adolescent development, as well as research methods and techniques that are used to study development. Key developmental issues will be considered in relation to both typical and atypical patterns of development.

    PSYC211 Psychology - Personality

    Department: Psychology, Speech & Hearing

    This course provides an overview of classic and contemporary theory and research in personality. Approaches to understanding personality will include Freudian and Neo-Freudian perspectives, genetic and evolutionary perspectives, biological perspectives, existential and humanistic perspectives, trait perspectives, and behavioural perspectives. In the laboratory sessions students will take, analyse, and interpret various personality assessment instruments.

    HSRV202 Human Services - Human Behaviour & Human Systems

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    This course examines the applications to human services of primary knowledge about human functioning and social behaviours, drawing on contemporary theories of psychosocial processes. The course explores selected developmental and external challenges facing children and families in New Zealand. The focus of the course is on usual developmental processes and the interface between individual and societal expectations, and implications for social service delivery.

    HSRV204 Human Services - Culture, Indigeneity and Citizenship

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    The course provides a critical introduction to the historical and current debates of culture, indigeneity and citizenship. The course focuses on debates that move beyond conventional notions of culture, indigeneity and citizenship, and treats these as strategic concepts that are central in the analysis of global/local identities, participation, empowerment, and social justice. Understanding how other communities, populations, groups and individuals organise their lives and participate in the social world enables us to develop theoretically informed tools for providing practical analysis and advice in the shaping/construction of human services agencies and practice.

    HSRV210 Human Services - Gender, Crime & Social Theory

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    This course considers a range of explanatory theories emanating from a range of disciplines that contribute to current understandings of gender, crime, deviance, social theory and social control. There is significant input from visiting professionals in criminal justice and allied practices relevant to the topic. Theories and constructions of crime, deviance, violence and gender will be discussed as these relate to gendered experiences within and without the criminal justice system.

    EDUC204 Education - Child & Adolescent Wellbeing & Health

    Department: School of Educational Studies & Leadership

    This course will explore ways in which well-being, resilience, and positive developmental trajectories may be supported and promoted from infancy through adolescence. Current research and theoretical models will be used to explore a number of critical issues related to health and well-being in a New Zealand context from developmental, educational, positive psychology and social emotional wellbeing perspectives.

    CRJU101 Criminal Justice - Introduction to Criminal Justice

    Department: Faculty of Law

    An introductory course focused on the structure of the Criminal Justice system and the role of government agencies. It looks at investigative and prosecutorial agencies such as Police, Fisheries, Customs, Serious Fraud Office, Crown prosecutors (including the Institute of Environmental Science and Research ESR); the criminal courts (High, District and Youth Courts) jurisdiction and roles); Corrections and related activities including probation, fines enforcement, community service; child and youth protection services (CYPS).

     

    2024

    SPCO223 Sport Coaching - Applied Sport Psychology

    Department: School of Health Sciences

    This course will examine the theory, philosophy and practice of psychological skills training in sport. Students will critically reflect on the application of sport psychology theories to psychological skills training programmes, examine the social psychology influences of sport and exercise participation and apply this knowledge to sport coaches and the sporting environment. The focus in this course will be on the practical application of psychological skills training to the sporting and coaching environment. The lectures of this course will feature practical and interactive exercises. Guest lecturers will present on their areas of expertise in various areas of sport psychology.
    Course content includes mental toughness, the Psychological Skills Training programme, stereotype threat, coach expectations, youth sport, injury and burnout.

    PSYC341 Psychology - Environmental Psychology

    Department: Psychology, Speech & Hearing

    Theories and principles from across psychology are presented to explain the causes of environmentally destructive behaviour, and generate solutions for a sustainable future. This course will teach you principles of behaviour change, and how you can apply them at home, in the workplace, and within the community. PSYC341 is designed to be practical and engaging. It includes weekly online exercises and discussions, and an applied behaviour change project to design a behavioural intervention to solve an environmental problem using principles from the course. Outcomes include learning to describe how psychological theory and methods can be used to explain and help solve environmental problems; how to reflect on and articulate personal views around the underlying causes of environmental problems and how psychology can be applied to solve them; and how to assess the strengths and limitations of the major psychological approaches for addressing environmental problems.

    MKTG315 Marketing - Marketing for Behavioural Change

    The Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism 

    This course focuses on the planning and implementation of programmes designed to bring about social change, using concepts from commercial marketing. It is geared toward furthering a cause, raising funds, awareness and public education, or bringing about social change. Students are exposed to a diverse range of not-for-profit and for-profit organisations that embody socially responsible and social-change driven missions. 

    HSRV212 Human Services - Family Violence

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    This course includes substantive content on the dynamics of family violence across three forms of violence including child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence and elder abuse. Specialist law provides the means through which family violence concerns can be addressed by the State. Both voluntary and statutory responses are used in response to family violence. This course covers a broad overview of the ways in which the family and the state attempt to address the issue of family violence. It introduces students to research and literature pertaining to family violence from an international and New Zealand perspective and will use this to critique how family violence is both framed and responded to.

    HSRV316 Humans Services - Non-Governmental Organisations & Social Development

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    This course investigates the characteristics and emergent role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in contemporary society within the context of challenges and issues related to social development. Learning will be integrated through the use of international and New Zealand case studies. This course explores how the roles of NGOs are constructed and constrained by the social and political environments in which they are situated. International research into disasters illustrates the complex tensions faced by NGOs and INGOs in their efforts to support and strengthen communities. The location of the course in Christchurch offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into these tensions, and how these are dealt with following local and global community disasters. Presenters include local researchers and experts who bring the practical contribution of critical social theory to life.

    HSRV301 Human Services - Change and Human Systems

    Department: Language, Social & Political Sciences

    This course uses theory to illuminate the functioning and processes of change within and across family, organisation, community and global systems. In addition to critically examining the relationship between oppression, empowerment and change in human systems, the course broadly considers ethical values and the legal obligations of human service delivery systems. The course uses theoretical concepts and perspectives to explore the functioning and processes of change within and across interpersonal, organisation, community and global settings.

    Postgraduate Diploma - Health Sciences

    University of Canterbury

    2025 

    HLH430 Motivating Behaviour Change

    This course provides introductory training in motivating behaviour change, including theory, research and practice, with particular emphasis on motivational interviewing. Learning aims and objectives of the paper are to provide an understanding of the theoretical basis of Motivational Interviewing (MI), develop knowledge of its practice and the research evidence. Learning outcomes include awareness of the professional, ethical, cultural issues in the practice of MI.

    Mātai Hinengaro

    Psychology is a diverse and thriving science that is devoted to understanding our thoughts, behaviour and the human mind. 

    Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and associated biological, cognitive, and social processes in humans and other animals. It is a rapidly developing field touching on all aspects of human life. Advances in neuro-imaging and molecular biology are rapidly enhancing our understanding of how the brain works, while increasingly complex theories are being developed to understand behavioural development of individuals and groups. Major advances are being made in understanding and treating psycho-pathologies such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and addictions.

    Students are trained to:

    • think independently and critically about psychological issues
    • become knowledgeable about the key methods, important findings, and major theories of psychology
    • learn how to distinguish genuine findings from implausible and suspect claims
    • understand modern scientific research in psychology. 

    Ratonga Tangata 

    Human Services is about working with people, to create healthy lives for the community and make positive impacts in the world.

    Human Services is one of the fastest growing employment fields in the world as it is incorporated in so many professions including education, law enforcement, health, and more. The skills gained from Human Services will suit any industry that involves compassion for and working with people, such as education, health, social support, policy, and law enforcement.

    Study involves:

    • Five different pathways within Human Services, including healthy lifestyles, crime and deviance, local and global communities, workplaces, and youth.
    • Opportunities to practice research skills and investigate topics from an angle of interest.
    • The subject can be studied alongside many different degrees to strengthen social awareness.
    Source: University of Canterbury

    PREKURE Health Coach Certification

    • PK101 - Behaviour as Medicine

      A course on the foundations of coaching and behaviour change covering health, chronic non-communicable diseases, behaviour change and the realities of health coaching in primary care. It delves into the science of health and chronic diseases and how lifestyle medicine can help in the prevention, management and even reversal of them. It develops understanding of what a health coach is and the key foundational skills used by health coaches to support behaviour change. PREKURE’s expert faculty including behaviour change specialist Dr Louise Schofield and Registered Nurse/PREKURE Lead Health Coach Sonya English guide through the topics and introduce tools and techniques that will facilitate behaviour change.
      Health coaches in training gain an in-depth understanding of the latest science and evidence in behaviour change. In this course, they learn both the art and science of coaching and behaviour change, giving them practical knowledge to help their clients or patients make sustainable behavioural changes. They learn all about motivational interviewing including how habits are formed, and discover the latest techniques from the field of positive psychology. This course arms health coaches with everything they need to know in the area of behaviour and medicine so they can really make a difference.

    • PK102 - Nutrition as Medicine

      Foundational nutrition course. Science-based nutritional knowledge and tools. The course provides an in-depth understanding of the latest science and evidence in nutrition. It designed to give a university-level education in nutrition with a solid foundation in the science of nutrition. Leading New Zealand dietician and academic, Dr Caryn Zinn, explores the basics of nutrition and explains how foods are digested and metabolised in the body. The course looks at a brief history of human nutrition and fundamentals for human health, the hormonal or metabolic theory of energy balance, macro/micronutrients and different dietary approaches.
      The course introduces the basic concepts of nutrition for human health from macronutrients to micronutrients and their energy contributions. It explores the basics of nutrition and explains how foods are digested and metabolised in the body. Dr Caryn Zinn and Professor Grant Schofield examine the background behind the modern food supply and nutrition guidelines dietary recommendations. They look at why and how different macronutrients affect the body differently, and how several hormones interact to affect our hunger, fullness, energy use and storage. The course dives into how insulin, ghrelin, leptin, glucagon and incretin hormones work and explains the hormonal or metabolic theory of health.

    • PK103 - Fitness as Medicine

      A course that covers exercise physiology and prescription in general practice (primary care) from a health coaching perspective. Professor Grant Schofield, a leading Australasian sports mentor explains why physical activity helps the body to function better. He explores how the human body works and why we have evolved to move, covering training zones and what energy systems are in play. He looks at the difference between physical activity, fitness, exercise, and sedentary behaviour by exploring the domains of physical activity and the components of fitness. He introduces the physical activity guidelines and evidence behind fitness, health and longevity. He delves into the mismatch between human evolutionary legacy and modern-day living and how genetic traits can be optimised in the modern context.
      The course explains how physical activity helps prevent disease in terms of reducing cardio-metabolic syndrome risk factors. It looks into why physical activity helps manage and reverse some chronic conditions. It then digs deeper into the benefits or disadvantages of different exercise settings - the fitness industry (gyms, personal trainers) and events. The latest science and practice around fitness testing is discussed to understand ways to measure an individual's fitness level and how to help them improve. The course also examines the fuel/nutrition and health implications of metabolic flexibility. It takes a closer look at the ketogenic diet and why it may have potential benefits for athletes and other highly active people. It then investigates how eating different mixes of carbohydrates, protein and fat may affect health and sporting performance.

    • PK104 - Mind-body Medicine

      A broad overview of mental health and mind-body medicine for health coaches collaborating with or referring individuals to medical practitioners (GPs and psychiatrists) and allied health professionals such as psychologists and psychotherapists. Topics covered relate to mental and physical health and wellbeing. The different modules focus on stress and resilience, mental illness and treatment, mindfulness, mindset and positive psychology, the biology of sleep, and brain health - including lifestyle factors known to impact on risks of cognitive decline. Modules begin by exploring how stress is perceived by the body and the role of the autonomic nervous system in the stress response and the role cortisol plays in the body. It delves into hormesis, antifragility and post-traumatic growth and explores the body’s ability to do more than just ‘bounce back’ from challenges but actually become better and stronger.
      Neuroscientist Dr Desiree Dickerson explains the aetiology or causes of anxiety and depression for understanding how mild to moderate mental illnesses can impact an individual's life. She explores more serious mental health disorders such as psychosis and bipolar disorder. She explains different approaches and treatment options (both conventional and emerging lifestyle tools) and the importance of referring patients on to appropriate health professionals. The course also covers mindfulness, mindset and positive psychology tools. It investigates the biology behind meditation and mindfulness and explores mindset and how it impacts on our health, stress, learning, and performance. It gives a overview of positive psychology and how it can be used in a clinical setting to help patients with health goals and examines a series of lifestyle tools.

    Professional Development

    Certificate in Mindfulness Facilitation - Mindfulness in New Zealand 2023

    A mindfulness facilitation courses for counsellors, and social workers to establish an ongoing mindfulness practice for themselves and to help others. Internationally Recognised Accreditation with IMMA (International Mindfulness & Meditation Alliance) and led by Rita Riccola a professional educator with more than 30 years experience of mindfulness and meditation. The course covers mindfulness techniques to relieve anxiety and stress, let go of anger and frustration, overcome negative or unhelpful thinking, limit distracting inner chatter, calm the stress response for 'rest and digest' to be activated instead of 'fight or fight' mode, and promote better sleep.