Marcia Underwood 
Creative Arts Therapist

Ko Pukekawa tō maunga

Ko Waikato tō awa

Ko Tainui te waka

Ko Tainui te iwi

Ko Ngāti Pou te hapū

Ko Tiramate rāua ko Harriott ōku tūpuna whaea

Ko Underwood te whānau

 

Kia ora, I’m Marcia. My role is to offer creative arts therapy to anyone who has experienced family harm, including individuals and couples seeking support in their relationships.

I carry a thread of whakapapa Māori on my father’s side, and I am also descended from Scottish, English, and Irish settlers who came to Aotearoa many generations ago in search of new opportunities. In many ways, I continue that journey — seeking opportunities for healing, growth, and reconnection for those I work alongside.

My passion is supporting people of all ages who have lived experience of family harm. Together, we explore opportunities to:

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• express emotions safely

• process and make sense of what has happened

• discover new insights into the inner self

• shift from a fight‑or‑flight state into a calmer, more connected space

• Creative arts are a powerful tool for this work — and you absolutely don’t need to be “good at art.” It’s about using creativity to tell your story, reconnect with yourself, and move toward safety and wellbeing for you and your whānau, now and into the future.

• Outside of mahi, you’ll often find me walking my dog on the beach (and yes, I swim all year round). I love creating — especially raranga harakeke and knitting — and I enjoy bushwalks, reading, spending time with my husband and our three adult tamariki, and catching up with friends. One thing I’d love to return to is setting the net in the estuary for mullet.

• After more than 20 years living in Ruakākā, I’m grateful to be working with our team to support our community. Please feel welcome to get in touch if you’d like an introduction to creative arts therapy.