Ai Kihara
My name is Ai Kihara, and I am a social worker and counsellor based in Aotearoa New Zealand. I have experience working in community mental health, trauma-informed practice, and cross-cultural settings. I have worked alongside individuals and families who have experienced trauma, family violence, mental health challenges, addiction, and involvement with the family court system.
I am originally from Japan and have lived in New Zealand since 2007. My practice is influenced by both Japanese and Western perspectives, and I bring a culturally sensitive and reflective approach to my work. My cultural background includes values such as humility, perseverance, and respect for relationships and community, which shape how I work with people and how I offer supervision.
I am passionate about supporting helping professionals to sustain themselves in this work, to reflect deeply, and to continue growing both personally and professionally.
My Approach
My approach to supervision is reflective, relational, and trauma-informed. I see supervision as a safe space where you can slow down, think, feel, and make sense of your work — not just report tasks or meet requirements.
In supervision with me, we focus on:
Reflective practice
Emotional impact of the work
Professional boundaries and ethical practice
Cultural safety
Self-awareness and use of self in practice
Burnout, vicarious trauma, and self-care
Developing your own professional identity and voice
I do not see supervision as a top-down expert model. I see it as a collaborative space where we think together. You are the expert in your experience, and my role is to walk alongside you, ask reflective questions, and support your professional and personal growth.
My supervision style is calm, non-judgemental, and thoughtful. I aim to create a space where you can speak openly, including about uncertainty, mistakes, and the emotional difficulty of this work, without fear of judgement.
I am particularly interested in supporting practitioners who are working with trauma, family violence, mental health, and cross-cultural clients, as well as practitioners who feel different, isolated, or unsure of their place in the system.
Supervision, to me, is not only about becoming a better worker, but about sustaining yourself as a human being doing difficult and meaningful work.
Qualifications
Registered Social Worker – Social Workers Registration Board (New Zealand)
Master of Counselling – University of Auckland
Postgraduate Certificate in Responding to Trauma (Level 8)
Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology – University of Auckland (in progress)
Diploma of Counselling – Lifeway College
Bachelor of Sociology – University of Momoyama, Japan
Registered Social Worker – Japanese Social Workers Association
Professional Memberships & Certifications
Member – New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC)
Associate Member – EMDR Association
ACC Registered Trauma Therapist (Sensitive Claims – Sexual Abuse)
Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Trainer – Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ICAMH)
Trainer – SCAS-ABC (Substance Use Screening for Youth)
Triple P Parenting Programme Facilitator
Domestic Violence Advocate Training (Shine)
Stop Smoking Practitioner
Profesional Association
"NZ Association of Counsellors
Social Work Registration Board"