Editorial

Psychotherapy in Aotearoa New Zealand: Past, present and future

  • John O'Connor
  • Wiremu Woodard

Abstract

As the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (NZAP) celebrates its 75th year we have much to be proud of, to celebrate, to recognise and acknowledge. The Ka mua, Ka muri Conference, out of which many of the papers in this issue of Ata have emerged, was a wonderful and creative celebration of the work of many. We are very grateful to the conference organisers of this stimulating and fruitful event. It celebrated the wisdom of our ancestors, the depth and energy of contemporary practitioners, and the many potentially creative opportunities and difficult challenges before us all. Our hope is that in engaging with the papers in this issue of Ata, these papers might invite us to consider how we are contributing clinically, as inhabitants of this planet, and as Association members, to creativity and life- giving possibilities, and also to reflect upon our own self-destructive capacities; to challenge ourselves to notice the ways in which we might engage with each other as an Association that might be deadening rather than enlivening. And, as Ogden (1999) suggested in his paper on aliveness and deadness, we hope this may assist us to continue to creatively associate, to reach across our differences, to understand, support, challenge, and enable each other and our remarkable Association. With these musings in mind, we are delighted to outline the creative and challenging papers which make up this issue of the Journal.

Author Biographies

John O'Connor

John O’Connor is a registered psychotherapist, Jungian analyst and counsellor, and has worked in clinical practice for over 30 years. He has extensive clinical experience, particularly in working with patients with severe trauma histories, in providing group psychotherapy and clinical supervision, and in working cross culturally. He is a former Director of Youthline Counselling Service (Auckland) and the Human Development and Training Institute (HDT). He also formerly worked at Segar House (which is part of ADHB Mental Health Services) and was a founding member of the therapeutic team at Segar which developed a residential treatment service (currently operating as a day programme) for patients with personality disorder diagnoses. He worked as a lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) within the Psychotherapy Discipline between 1999 and 2019, and was formerly Programme Leader of the Master of Psychotherapy (adult programme) at AUT. He is the current Chair of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (NZAP) Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) psychotherapy training pathway and is co-editor of Ata: Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand. John currently conducts a private practice in Mangere Bridge. He is undertaking his PhD exploring the discourses underpinning the making possible of psychotherapy as a clinical practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Phone 021 899 261. Email: johnnygj@xtra.co.nz

Wiremu Woodard

Wiremu Woodard is an Indigenous therapist, father of four, activist, environmentalist, sometimes contemporary dancer and artist. Wiremu is committed to reducing health disparities for Māori and promoting social justice. He currently works in community practice at KERERU and is a founding member of Waka Oranga — a group of dynamic Indigenous Māori practitioners committed to emancipatory freedom. Wiremu is the co-editor of Ata. Contact details: kereru.psychotherapy@ gmail.com

How to Cite
O’Connor, J., & Woodard, W. (1). Editorial: Psychotherapy in Aotearoa New Zealand: Past, present and future. Ata: Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand, 26(2), 7-9. https://doi.org/10.9791/ajpanz.2022.06