Sara Crane is a TEP and  Psychodramatist.  She is the Director of Training for PANZ  Ōtepoti Dunedin and Ōtautahi Christchurch and works as a visiting trainer in Brisbane.  Sara’s love of psychodrama is grounded in her belief in the transformative power of spontaneity and human connection. 

Sara has worked across multiple regions and sectors, giving her a rich understanding of the varied applications of psychodrama. She supports individuals and groups in navigating complex relational issues including a focus on family dynamics and extensive work with children in the context of their Whanau. She was involved in setting up START which was formed to provide clinical services to people who had survived sexual trauma.  She has worked at a systemic organisational level including supervising teams within the NZ Ministry of Justice and attending to children and families in the legal system. She enjoys working with complex family systems supporting them to mediate conflicts and achieve healthier, more supportive relationships.

 Sara is deeply concerned about the state of our changing world and the pressure and challenges for our communities. As a trainer, she seeks to support trainees to strengthen their abilities and develop their professional capacities to make a difference. 

As a member of AANZPA, she has taken on several roles (President, Journal Editor) and appreciates the opportunities to participate in conferences and the ongoing life of the association.

Sara is a Registered Psychotherapist (PBANZ) and Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate (NZAP).

For her solace, Sara loves to write flash fiction, finding joy in the brevity and emotional depth of the form. Her dogs, cats and llamas continue to be beloved companions in both her outdoor adventures and some of her professional work. Psychodrama has enabled her to bring the threads of her life together and pass on the complexities and wisdom of the method.

Hamish is a Psychodramatist and Trainer Educator Practitioner (TEP). He delivers training in Aotearoa New Zealand through the Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin Campuses of PANZ.  

Hamish is a psychotherapist who has worked in private practice since 2002. He sees a wide range of clients including individuals, couples and groups. He was appointed to the Psychotherapy Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (PBANZ) in 2016 and served as the PBANZ Chair between 2020 and 2023.

Hamish has been an organisational consultant since 1997. He has worked in several countries on projects including training people in group facilitation, and leadership and has led large-scale projects oriented to producing systemic and organisational change.  He co-founded Phoenix Facilitation in 2008 to provide organisational consulting based on Moreno's social theories.

Hamish holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and a Master’s Degree in Dispute Resolution from Massey University,

Hamish is the father of two grown-up daughters. He grew up on a farm near Kaikohe in Te Tai Tokerau and is now based in West Auckland. In his spare time, he loves playing contract bridge.

Maria is a Psychodramatist, Registered Psychotherapist and experienced group facilitator. She has been a member of AANZPA since about 2010 and has held various roles on the committee of the Otago branch.

Maria studied at Otago and has a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature, and a Diploma in Teaching. She has 20 years experience in leading Non-Violence programmes and has completed level 1 of Imago training.

Maria’s training journey began with her experiences in teaching children. This grew into a commitment to social justice which has been most strongly expressed in her work at Stopping Violence Dunedin. Her current focus is on expanding the range of her clinical experience by building up her private practice.

Maria’s interesting surname comes from her Russian parentage. She is the daughter of refugees who settled in Southland in the 1960s. This experience has created a life long interest in the transmission of language and culture. An interest in language is shared by her husband Andrew. They both thought very carefully when choosing the names of their two children, who occasionally forgive them.

Maria is passionate about gardening, even the weeds fascinate her! Other outlets for her creativity are; creating with fabrics, mosaics and more recently, macrame. She is currently obsessed with transforming a steep wasteland into a garden with veggies, flowers, native plants, and maybe even a hive of bees