Kaufoou (Kaye) Sandys

Introduction

About Me
Ko Kaye tōku ingoa.

I am a trauma-informed clinician, but more than that, I am someone who walks gently beside those carrying heavy stories. I support individuals and whānau navigating the deep waters of addiction, sexual trauma, and family harm, holding space for their pain, their strength, and their healing. My practice is rooted in cultural humility, relational integrity, and a profound respect for the sacredness of each person’s journey.

I am also a Christian, and my faith is the quiet thread that runs through everything I do. It calls me to love without condition, to listen without judgment, and to honour the dignity of every person I meet. I don’t believe in labels or pigeonholes. I believe in people, in their resilience, their worth, and their right to be met with compassion and care, exactly as they are.

Healing, to me, is not a destination; it’s a relationship. It’s found in the warmth of connection, in the courage to be seen, and in the slow, powerful work of restoring what has been broken. I draw from both evidence-based therapies and indigenous wisdom, offering care that is clinically grounded and culturally held. Whether in one-on-one sessions or community spaces, I strive to embody whanaungatanga, aroha, and manaakitanga in every encounter.

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.”
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

My work is rooted in the truth that healing is a shared journey, no one should walk it alone.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Addiction Studies
• Bachelor of Theology/Art
• Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (in progress)
• Advanced training in:
  • Motivational Interviewing (MI)
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Collaborative practice with:
  • Mirimiri and Rongoā Māori practitioners
  • EMDR-trained clinicians

Experience

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across prisons, psychiatric units, Drug Treatment Court, and community-based services, spaces where trauma and hope often sit side by side. These experiences have shaped my understanding of systemic harm, intergenerational pain, and the quiet power of resilience.

Today, I serve as an ACC Registered Sensitive Claims Provider/Clinician, walking with survivors of sexual violence as they reclaim their voice and their mana. I also develop culturally responsive programs for untrained counsellors and community leaders, sharing tools, language, and frameworks that honour both clinical knowledge and indigenous ways of knowing.

You are not broken, please hold onto that truth. The ways you have survived are not failures but brave acts of resilience. The pain you carry is not your fault, and the shame belongs to the harm, not to you. Healing is about returning to yourself, reclaiming your voice, and honouring your courage. Every feeling you have is a testament to your strength and a vital piece of your story. You are not alone.

My work is guided by a simple but powerful belief: healing is a collective journey. And no one should have to walk it alone.