Meet Dayna Cooper

Dayna Cooper, B.A., M.A. (Hons), MClinPsych, NZCCP

Senior Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Practice Manager Takapuna

Dayna is a warm, friendly and approachable Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents and their families across a variety of settings. Dayna’s experience includes working with mild to moderate mental health issues in a youth development organisation, providing specialist neuropsychological assessment in a university clinic, and assessment and treatment of moderate to severe complex psychological concerns for the DHB Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. She is experienced in providing assessment and therapeutic intervention for children, adolescents and young adults who present with a wide range of mental health concerns, including and specialising in emotional dysregulation, eating disorders, trauma and abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and dissociative disorders.

Dayna is also a skilled group facilitator and has facilitated many evidence based programmes for parents and young people including the multi-family DBT skills group and the FOCUS group for OCD. She has specific training in brief family therapy interventions.

In addition to working with Totally Psyched, Dayna continues to work part-time for the DHB Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service with complex, moderate to severe mental health issues.

Dayna uses a range of therapeutic modalities which include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, EMDR and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD, Mindfulness and Family Therapy Interventions. She is also interested in the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders using neuropsychological assessment tools and specialised clinical interviewing and observation techniques.

Dayna takes a strengths-based and client-centred approach to all of her work with children, young people and families and is skilled at engaging and motivating young people to make positive changes in their lives. She strives to offer effective and evidence-based interventions of a high standard to support her clients to reach their goals. She values collaboration, consultation and a partnered approach with the families she works with. Dayna is positive, encouraging and calm, with a great sense of humour and a passion for supporting young people to reach their potential and overcome their difficulties.

Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) – Massey University
- Master of Arts (Psychology): First Class Honours – Massey University
- Master of Clinical Psychology – Massey University

Memberships to Professional Colleges/Boards
- New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP)
- EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA)
- Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (ANZACBT)