Dr Naya Williams

Dr Naya Williams is a Clinical Psychologist who completed a Doctor of Clinical Psychology at The University of Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand. She works with adults and young people facing a variety of challenges, including – but not limited to – low mood, anxiety and fear (specific and general), grief, identity challenges, difficulties managing intense emotions, OCD, ADHD, and anger management. Naya has experience working with clients living with PTSD, TBI, and who have experienced significant trauma across the lifespan.

Naya seeks to foster a transparent therapeutic environment where clients feel informed about their options, able to ask questions, and empowered to play an active role in choosing what their therapeutic journey will look like. Naya views the therapeutic relationship as an important part of therapy, and a space where clients should feel encouraged to communicate their needs, including their level of readiness for challenge and disclosure. Naya enjoys being creative in her therapeutic style, including using metaphors and examples that relate to clients and their lives. She seeks to tailor interventions to clients learning styles and needs. Naya has experience working with diversity, including individuals across ages, genders, and cultures. She is a proud LGBTQIA+ ally, and is neurodiversity affirming.

Naya is a proud indigenous Māori woman, and draws upon her own cultural identity to promote healing and wellbeing. Her relational approach intergrates Māori values, which allow her to gently whakamana (empower) clients to recognise and embrace their own strengths and identities. Her holistic approach attends to environmental, systemic, historical, cultural, and spiritual understandings of distress and wellbeing.

Naya utilises evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Schema Therapy principles. She considers attachment and early life experiences that may shape how individuals relate to the world and others, and considers family of origin and cultural understandings that may be central to understanding clients’ experiences. Her trauma-informed and individualised methods aim to ensure that each client’s unique needs are met with care and respect.