About Me.

My journey so far.

Ko Tongariro te maunga
Ko Taupō-nui-a-Tia te moana
Ko Ngāti Hinerau me
Ngāti Tutemohuta ngā hapū
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Pākira te marae
Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa te iwi
Ko Vicki Tahau-Sweet ahau

I was born and raised in Whanganui, Aotearoa New Zealand. In the community I grew up in we all experienced significant challenges similar to the stories told in the Once Were Warriors novel and film. My experiences in my own whānau and our community motivated me to want to become a teacher and counsellor so that I could give back and contribute to the educational/mental wellbeing of our young people and whānau (families) in the community. 

After high school I spent some time in the New Zealand Army before becoming a māmā and eventually raising my two children as a single māma in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. While I was raising my children I began study towards becoming a secondary school teacher eventually working at two schools in the Waikato as a computing and technology teacher. Following several years working as teacher I embarked on a journey towards becoming a Narrative Counselling Therapist graduating from the University of Waikato with a Master of Counselling (First Class Honours) degree.

I am proudly Māori and Pākehā.

I am a qualified Narrative Therapy Counsellor and have been privileged to work alongside and support children, young people, men, women and whānau (families) who have experienced the effects of depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, sexual violence, physical (and domestic) violence, eating disorders, substance misuse (alcohol & drugs), grief & loss, intimate/sexual relationship problems, sexual and gender identity issues, parental relationship challenges, blended family challenges.