Mara Elwood BA, B Ed., MA Ed.,
MA CAT Hons., AThR

Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher

Certified in MARI

Mara is a Registered Creative Arts Therapist, certified teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion and creative. Mara is a professional member of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Creative Arts Therapist Association (ANZACATA).   

Mara has experience with Focusing Oriented Arts Therapy (FOAT), Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy, and has her Level 2 training in Stand Tray and Symbol Work.  Mara loves to work with Mandalas and is certified in the Mandala Assessment and Research Instrument (MARI). Mara's Master's dissertation was focussed on living with chronic pain and working in the health care profession. Mara uses her learning from her own journey with chronic pain to guide her when working with clients who are experiencing this challenge.

 

Mara also holds a Master of Arts degree in teaching and has taught a wide variety of ages. She is a prolifically creative person and brings this energy to the way she engages with people. She believes that everyone is inherently creative. Her practice focusses on Adults and Youth clients and Mara enjoys the unique challenges each client brings to the therapy space.​​

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Mara immigrated to New Zealand from Canada in 2014 with her partner and two children.  She has lived on Waiheke, in Auckland and currently lives in Island Bay and works at The Dunes Practice in Hataitai, Wellington.