Since 2013 Diane has worked as a counsellor at Presbyterian Support in Christchurch where she provides counselling services to individuals and families. Her counselling framework is based around a Narrative Therapy approach. She also facilitates Parenting Through Separation programmes, Incredible Years parenting programmes, and has been involved with the Canterbury Children’s Team as a Lead Professional.

She became an accredited ACC counsellor for sensitive claims work in 2016, and begun private practice one day a week in 2017.

Prior to counselling, Diane was working in a community mental health setting and her framework for her work was based around her occupational therapy skills and knowledge. She has also undertaken a small mental health contract as a community occupational therapist for the CDHB, working with Youth in Banks Peninsula. Her earliest work as an occupational therapist was in acute psychiatry within the CDHB.

Voluntary work with Parents Centres New Zealand saw Diane working for 13 years with the organisation at Centre, Regional and National Levels. At this time she also had part time paid work as a Childbirth Educator in Christchurch and a National trainer of Centre volunteers throughout New Zealand. After completing her time at Parents Centres New Zealand, Diane worked for The Parenting Place (Initially called Parenting Inc). She was the Wellington/South Island Co-ordinator and trainer of facilitators for the Toolbox Parenting Courses throughout these areas. At the same time she facilitated Toolbox courses in Christchurch.

Diane has completed various other roles over the years, all of which have focused around families and supporting women. She has a passion for seeing families grow stronger and enhance their resources so to manage their day-to-day family life. These other roles include:

2007 - 2008 Trustee, Spreydon Health and Family Trust in Christchurch

2005 - 2006 Consumer Representative, Canterbury District Health Board Maternity Reference Group

2004 - 2008 Trustee of the Caroline Reid Charitable Foundation (now part of Stepping Stone Trust)- A Trust that helps children whose families are impacted by mental illness

1998 - 2000 Consumer member, National Maternity Advisory Committee, Health Funding Authority.

1994 - 2003 Parents Centres Representative (1994 – 2003) and Chairperson (1996 – 2003) of the Aoraki/Parents Centres New Zealand Childbirth Education Course Advisory Committee, Aoraki Polytechnic, Timaru

1994 - 1997 Parents Centre Consumer Representative on the New Zealand College of Midwives National Committee

2016 ACC approved Counsellor for Sensitive Claims

2015 Ministry of Justice approved facilitator for Parenting through Separation Programmes

2015 Masters of Counselling (Waikato University)

1991 Diploma of Childbirth Education (Parents Centres NZ)

1985 Diploma of Occupation Therapy (CIT, Upper Hutt)

Full Membership of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (MNZAC)