Gina Sembrano-Yearley

I am a Clinical Psychologist and Child Psychologist based in Wellington CBD. I came to New Zealand from Italy in 2012. I worked for two years as clinical psychologist at Child Adolescent and Family Service (CAFS), Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. Since 2014 until October 2018, I worked with nongovernment organizations specialized in meeting the mental health needs of clients with refugee background, first in Auckland, and then in Wellington. The work consisted of delivering mental health services to former refugee from various ethnic groups and nationalities (e.g. Burmese, Afghans, Iraqi, Ethiopians, Syrians, Eritreans, etc.). I dealt with clients of different cultural and religious backgrounds such as Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. All my former refugee clients have traumatic experiences caused by torture, war, oppressive regimes and ethnic, religious and/or political persecutions. I am currently employed as clinical psychologist of Health Pasifika, a mental health service of the Capital and Coast District Health Board which caters the mental health needs of Pacific Island people living in the Wellington area. I work part time as a private practitioner. I am an ACC registered clinical psychologist for Sensitive Claims. I am of Filipino origin. I obtained my degrees in Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Theology in Rome, where I lived for more than 20 years. I practiced the profession in Rome for a number of years before coming to New Zealand. I have extensive knowledge and experience in treating various disorders such as Mood, Anxiety and Developmental Disorders in both children and adults. I have particular competence in assessing and treating Stress and Stress Related Disorders such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, and Adjustment Disorder in all age range. I do psychological interventions that are culturally sensitive and safe. Whilst I specialized in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, I employ other treatment models such as Schema Therapy, ACT, Mindfulness, psychodynamic approach, brain-based therapy and Client Centred Therapy,. I believe that the human mind is too complex to be understood and treated by one single model. I favor an integrated approach of therapy that takes into consideration the various aspects of your life like: the physical, the mental, the social, and the spiritual dimension. I do therapy in different languages: English, Italian, Filipino, and Cebuano. I am also experienced in doing therapy with an interpreter.