MSocSci, PG Dip Clin Psych, MNZPS, MNZHPS
Registered Clinical Psychologist
Kirsty Dempster-Rivett graduated from the University of Waikato in 2000 with a Masters of Social Science Degree with First Class Honours and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology. Her work has been wide and varied, beginning with a focus on working with adult offenders that progressed to a focus on provision of therapy for traumatised, suicidal and at-risk children and young people.
She began her career as a psychologist for the Psychological Service of the Department of Corrections, Hamilton. She was then seconded to be the primary and Consultant Psychologist responsible for the set up and ongoing staff training, supervision, individual and group therapy work for adolescent offenders at the Young Offender's Unit at The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Prison. In addition, at this time, she was on two National Committees for the development of procedures for Bicultural Therapy through the Psychological Service of the Department of Corrections and for the development of a Tikanga framework for Young Offender Units. She then became the first specialist Youth Forensic Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Waikato District Health Board, responsible for individual and group therapy work for adolescent offenders within the Waikato district area. This work involved the development, implementation and evaluation of the Equip Group Therapy programme being run in an Alternative Education setting for young offenders as a joint venture between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Waikato, and iwi based organization, Maatua Whangai. Consequently, she received a Nomination of Merit in the Simply the Best Summer Awards 2005 for the Waikato District Health Board for the Youth Forensic team. In addition, she served the Waikato DHB as a member on a number of committees including: the ChildWATCH Committee responsible for advising on child health issues; the Youth Suicide Prevention Action Plan committee; the Youth Health Prevention Action Plan committee for Waikato DHB. Since June 2005 she has been a full time private practice Consultant Clinical Psychologist and is an ACC accredited counsellor. This work includes being part of a local High School's holistic health team, working with adolescents at Rongo Atea Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Service, Pai Ake Solutions (dual diagnosis service) and Youth Horizon�s Hamilton based residential facility.
From August 2005 she has worked for the Towards Wellbeing Programme providing clinical expertise to social workers around the identification, assessment and management of young people considered at higher risk of suicide. This work incorporates aspects of suicide prevention, postvention, training and supervision. Kirsty has provided training on working with young people, and in particular suicidal young people, to a variety of professionals and community groups including, clinical psychologist and nursing students, Police, prison officers, child and adolescent mental health workers, community groups. She as experience in supervising students, prison officers, peers, and health service providers.