Counsellor Team
Nicola Cruise
Hi, I’m Nic, originally from the UK I have been calling NZ home now for over 15 years and moved to Nelson a couple of years ago from Auckland.
I am currently studying towards a Bachelor of Counselling and I’m passionate about helping to make counselling as accessible as possible to those seeking support.
Through my own personal experience my greatest learning is that it is never too early or too late to seek the change you desire, whenever you are ready to reach out is the right time.
I provide a nonjudgmental, down to earth space where clients may share freely and confidentially.
I truly believe that whilst our history and experiences may shape us, they don’t have to define us going forward. I practice a person centered, pluralistic approach to counselling, including CBT and Narrative, working together with clients to explore strengths, skills and motivation as well as tools and strategies to help you achieve and maintain the future you wish for.
Naomi Dakin
C-IAYT Yoga Therapist
Sofie Ofsted
Kia ora koutou,
I come from a background of adventuring in the outdoors, both as an outdoor instructor and adventure tourism guide. Thus, I’m comfortable with keeping people physically and emotionally safe, and find that I am calm and grounded even when the environment is not. Having been brought up in a handful of different countries I find that I am able to meet people where they are at with ease.
As a student of NMIT’s Bachelor of Counselling I am currently undergoing training in a variety of therapeutic frameworks, these include, but are not limited to, person centered counselling, solution focused therapy, and narrative therapy. This pluralistic approach to counselling is first and foremost collaborative and rests on the foundation that different people are likely to be helped by different things at different times.
Shari Gibson
Kia ora koutou,
I’m Shari and I am a trainee counsellor in my final year, studying through BTI Tauranga. It has always been my passion to see people overcome the challenges and adversities of life, achieving a greater sense of wholeness and well-being.
I see the counselling relationship as collaborative, and I offer a safe, non-judgemental and supportive environment for my client to explore the issues they are facing, believing that our past can become our teacher as we journey towards growth.
I value the uniqueness and dignity of each individual and aim to foster an environment of respect and acceptance. I work with my client towards their own greater self-acceptance and self-compassion, as they seek to understand themselves more.
My approach is person-centred and strengths-based, integrating aspects of CBT and Narrative therapy.
Steffen Poepjes
I am Steffen, and for the past 15 years I have been involved in the outdoor education / adventure therapy world. I have a passion to see people set free from anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD and anything else that is stopping them be their best self.
I am in my second year of a counselling degree through Bethlehem Tertiary Institute. This has helped me to develop new skills to engage and develop safe and trusting relationships with the tangata whaiora I encounter.
Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua. I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past. We are walking on the foundations of our ancestors, we learn from our past but through connection, collaboration and guidance we have the opportunity to change the future. I offer non-judgemental support to help people reflect, set goals and strategize, giving them the skills to do this autonomously in the future.
Interested in joining our counselling team?
Talk to our counselling manager on 03 548 2400 or email [email protected]
Staff Team
Dawn Allan
Operations Manager
I have lived most of my life here in Nelson, apart from time spent in Auckland in the 1990’s, in 1999 I headed overseas for my big OE and ended up working in England. While there a meet a bloke and had a child, in 2003 I travelled home back to Nelson when my baby was 11 weeks old (the best age to travel with baby). In 2007 my sister in law, asked me to join the Committee at Postnatal Depression Support Network Nelson (now known as Perinatal Support Nelson), this started a new phase in my working life of being involved in the NFP sector.
Working for an NGO not only gives you a chance to work more closely with clients, it allows you to really see that you have made a difference in their lives, it also gives you the opportunity to complete different tasks.
In 2015 I joined the team at Life Linc Nelson as the Administrator and now I am the Operations Manager.
Debbie Brooks
Community Liaison Administrator
Kia Ora. I am an American who has been calling New Zealand home for the last 14 years. I am from a very large family and have always felt it is important to speak up when I see a need. I have a passion for work in the “for purpose” sector and have been involved in charities for the better part of a decade now. My primary focus for work has been the performing arts sector as I have been involved with the Nelson Fringe Festival since it started in 2015 and I currently sit on the charitable trust that governs the festival.
I live in Upper Moutere with my husband and our 5 year old son, a dog, cats and chickens. Working for Life Linc has brought me immense satisfaction as I focus on building relationships with our stakeholders and community groups and expanding our social media reach. Taking care of our mental well-being is very important to me as I discovered after having my son and experiencing post-partum depression. Getting counselling has made an immense difference in my life and I support the mahi of removing barriers to access care. My hope is for anyone searching for help to find it easily.
Life Linc Board
Diana Bartle
Trustee
I have been a Registered Nurse for more than 40 years. I completed my nursing, Public Health and Occupational Health nursing training in London before spending two years in rural Bangladesh with the Save the Children Fund. This was followed by three years with Oxfam and the British Red Cross in Somalia, where I lived in refugee camps, trained refugees to be health workers and organized feeding centres for malnourished children, before becoming the Community Health Advisor to the Somali Government Refugee Health Unit.
On moving to New Zealand, I worked in occupational health and practice nursing, and taught CPR and First Aid in the community and to health professionals.
I now volunteer with Riding for the Disabled and Citizens Advice Bureau. Together with my position as chair of Life Linc, I see these roles as my ongoing contribution to the health of our community.
Paul Marlow
Chair
Brigid Moffat
Trustee
I am from Nelson and after extensive travel have been back living in Nelson for 20 years with my family. I am a special needs teacher and currently work at Maitai school as a Specialist Teacher Outreach Service, where I support schools and students in their local primary school. I have a strong sense of equity and believe that every child has a right to an education, and with the correct support structures in place, they can gain a sense of achievement and belonging.
I sat on the Board at Enner Glynn School for 6 years and found the experience enjoyable and stimulating. Doing voluntary work is important to me as I like to give back to the community, in a way that best suits my skill set. My family life keeps me busy and active – my current favourite is weekend walks up the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Life Linc is a valuable resource for the Nelson/Tasman region to provide accessible counselling for the community and I am proud to be a part of such a dedicated team.
John Hopkins
Trustee
I wear two hats, one working as a business coach partnering Business Success Partners NZ, and the other as the Retail Operations Manager for Nelson Tasman Hospice. Having owned and operated a number of businesses throughout my career I have extensive experience in all facets of business operations.
In my spare time I enjoy fishing, scuba diving, motorbike riding and spending time with my family.
What Life Linc does is so important. This is the reason why I joined the board.
Richard Wilkins
Trustee
Jennifer Montauban
Trustee
Counselling is at the very core of my work as a qualified counsellor and continued learning interests. Coming onto the Board provides the opportunity to extend how I can contribute to the work and organisation as a whole.
The experience and skills I can offer to this role are drawn from a pool of life learnings and
experiences, challenges, and development I have had along the way. I retrained and graduated as a counsellor in 2020. Prior to training, I previously worked alongside my husband co-managing our business for over 21 years while raising 4 children, now adults.
In my spare time I continue my love for learning, reading, gardening, singing, walking in nature and faith community. The greatest reward is continuing to spend time with our growing family, their partners and our 7 grandchildren.
Join our Board
Places come up on our Board from time to time. Please email our manager if you would like to know more on [email protected]