CLINICAL CONSULTING
Trained as a clinical psychologist in the 1970’s, we were introduced to a bit of everything, sex therapy, behavioural therapy, couples therapy, working with phobias, depression, addictions and schizophrenia. The pallet of learning was extensive.
As a combined result of my experience I specialise in:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Work-related stress
- Worry
- Social anxiety
- PTSD
I mostly work with adults and young adults. In today’s ‘urban jungle’, anxiety, in my opinion, prevails as the epidemic. The anxiety of the ‘Facebook’ world and brand advertising and social images of perfection, do take their toll in the youth as illustrated by youth suicide.
For adults, the same – work stress, lifestyle balance impact on relationships, anxiety accumulates and collapses the system into depression.
My approach is integrated, in that I will use whatever I see as offering the biggest contribution to the well-being of the individual. This often means borrowing from different schools of thought. I integrate a great deal of the cognitive behavioural approach into my work.
I also work alongside doctors and psychiatrists and am very literate in the appropriate uses of medication.
From a happy client
“I am doing well and loving life. Thanks to you I can stand in front of people & do presentations. Thank you for re-wiring my brain and enabling me to live free without fear. It brings tears to my eyes what you did for me.”
Love S – (No longer social phobic, no longer afraid of failure)
CORPORATE TRAINING
My programmes are always specifically tailored to the needs of the organisation. They do have a Cognitive Behavioural foundation as this methodology provides the most practical strategies and outcomes from short learning interventions.
Given that workshops and seminars in the workplace are in the most demand, content primarily has the following themes;
- Bettering communication.
- Managing stress in the workplace
- Managing People
- Understanding people problems.
- Gen Y workshops
- Resilience training
- Preventing Burn Out
- Training modules in; Worry, negative perfectionism, procrastination.
- Customer communications training
- Dealing with gossip and bullying in the workplace
- Work/Life Balance
- Assertiveness Training
- Soft Skills training for the IT Industry.
Client List Includes
- Canon NZ & Aust
- TVNZ
- Simpson Grierson
- Shopping Channel
- Schwarzkopf NZ & Australia
- Vodafone
- Ministry of Justice
On the more individual side of this work, I am also employed with Stress in the Workplace claims as an expert witness and consultant. I have advocated for both employees and employers. I maintain a number of ongoing Employee Assistance relationships with such organisations as:
- Air New Zealand
- Television New Zealand
- Medical Protection Society
- Vodafone
- Pilots Benefit Fund
- Private medical insurers.
I am not at this stage ACC registered.
What you can expect?
I always meet with the organisation and ask for a brief of what the most important pressing problems are and design the presentations to meet these requirements. Most organisations have specific needs, e.g. stress management, communications skills, adapting to a merger etc. Hence the workshop design is to provide a model of understanding the emotional responses to the stress/strain and teach techniques for best managing these responses.
Personal stories often emerge with regards, family and mental health challenges, these are dealt with sensitively and with respect.
The outcome is to provide resilience and adaptability to changing environments and the demands of an ever-changing world.
Testimonial
Many thanks again for all you’ve done for the team here. It was very much appreciated.
P Goonan
The National Transcription Service (NTS) is a business unit within the Higher Courts Group of the Ministry of Justice, employing approximately 130 Court Reporters. NTS has the potential capacity to transcribe in excess of 60 ‘live’ events simultaneously, whilst continuing to provide transcription for other events that do not require live support. Audio content and complexity mixed with the speed needed to ensure our Courts are able to proceed without pause or interruption are stressors that when coupled with crimes that for the majority are abhorrent to hear, make the workday difficult to let go of.
NTS, in particular, the Albany service centre was fortunate to have Gwendoline Smith, an acclaimed psychologist and author, to present to staff on the ‘Power of One’ and how we, as individuals, hold the key to coping both at work and in our private lives. The presentation itself, while informal, was totally engaging, enlightening, thought-provoking and in true ‘Gwendoline fashion’, humorous.
Gwendoline, thank you for taking the time to present to our team – the feedback, without exception, was ‘WOW!!’ ‘Absolutely fantastic’ and ‘We want more of that’, ‘What an empowering woman’ and ‘I could listen to her all day’.
Justice Department
LEGAL SERVICES
Employment Law & Expert Witness
Along with my Clinical Consulting experience, I have developed a specialist interest as an Expert Witness in employment law. My track record so far, has been one of formidable success. (References of course available if you don’t believe me.) So much so that I have been asked to speak and present workshops on behalf of the Law Society.
Then as fate would have it I began working with stressed lawyers. (Now presenting with significant stats in the areas of depression and suicide.)
“Your presentation rated among the top presentations of the day. Your bubbly & positive input was appreciated and enjoyed by all attendees.”
Regarding my presentation to the Law Society, from:
Director of CLE
SPEAKING & LECTURING
I can speak without hesitation at breakfast, lunch, dinner, after dinner, full days, half days, you name it… and of course, being of Irish heritage, I can talk about anything!
Don’t be intimidated or bored by my leaning towards the neuroscientific and academic side of life. There’s a volume of comedic material when you’re talking about the human brain. I lecture at Universities, including “Oxford” but am just as at home in a rugby club. Workshops, seminars, debates, televised or non-televised.
National & international Conferences.
I have spoken throughout South East Asia, primarily as a clinician at neuroscience summits. I am especially skilled at speaking through translation headphones sets and take care to be culturally sensitive at all times, but as politically incorrect as what I can get away with, with no damage done!
I have developed a unique ability to speak in many areas, combining science and fact with humour and accessibility for audiences from many walks of life. Below are a few examples of this diversity.
- University lecturing
- Neuroscience summit to Japanese neuro clinicians in Melbourne.
- Talking about the stigma of depressive illness in South Korea, to experts from the South Pacific region.
- Breast cancer foundation and breast support groups.
- Stigma and depression Oxford University Hospital.
- Stress in the workplace – Auckland District Law Society
- Stress and lawyers – NZ Bar Association
- Dinner speaker – Affective Disorders Conference,
- Christchurch NZ
- Breast Support Book Launch
- Dinner speaker at ANZ Psychiatry & the Law conference.
- Keynote Speaker Psychology philosophy and Ethics conference.
- Educational speaker for ProCare doctors educational progammes.
This list provides a small cross-section of the speaking I have done. I have also donated a lot of time speaking to non-profit and charitable organisations. Where causes are involved that I believe are very worthwhile, given you can’t give time to all of them.
WORKPLACE STRESS TRAINING
Psychological stress is now recognised as a workplace hazard.
Employers now have a legal responsibility to provide services to assist employees. (EAP).
I provide workshops & seminars for stress identification & management for both sides of the story. My expertise was employed in work with disability insurance. One study showed a saving of $1.3million on 23 cases.
Q: HOW?
A: Explaining Thinking.
Some of my clients who have benefitted from my Workplace Stress workshops & seminars include:
- Air New Zealand
- Telecom
- Mobil
- ACC
- Sovereign
- AIA
- Medical Assurance