Ara Taiohi

I’m a registered Social Worker with over 15 years’ experience working in a variety of practice areas including health, mental health and children’s and youth services. I’m originally from the UK and trained and worked as a Social Worker in London before moving to the Bay of Plenty in 2012. Currently I work part time as a Health Improvement Practitioner in a GP practice, part time as a Social Worker with Te Whatu Ora and part time supervising. I use ideas and skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational interviewing (MI) and Strengths Based and Solutions Focuses approaches. All my Social Work roles have been in community settings, and I’ve worked in a number of interdisciplinary teams. I’ve a broad knowledge of the New Zealand health, welfare, child, youth services and housing systems. I enjoy helping other practitioners to develop and I’ve previously been a Field Supervisor for Social Work students from the University of Auckland.