Dr Mel Taitimu

I am a therapist, researcher, mother, wife, surfer, dancer...I have many ways in which I interact with the world. I am currently developing the MAIA METHOD, an approach to wellbeing that challenges traditional western models of psychology and weaves holistic, indigenous and environmental health into practice. I work with open minded people and organisations who want to create collaboratively solutions in order to embed wellbeing into the design of how we live. (Instead of something we have to do to cope with how the world is!!)

Stories Surfing Dancing Food Community Activism

I tell my children, "Be careful, your words are magic." Language is not an independent label that describes reality, it shapes the content, course and outcome of our lived experience. Activism is about a reclamation of language and redefining who we are, how we belong and our relationship to the world.

activism, Healing, indigenous psychology, Mindfulness/meditation, Personal development, Psychology

I don't really have a TED story except that when I go onto TED I go down a rabbit hole of learning about wonderful things that I would never have engaged in as I tend to look towards the spaces I work in mostly for reading and learning. I loved the TED WOMAN event 2020. Fearless was an apt title. How inspired I am and loved the medium of being online.

Rapping (this is very subjective!!). I won a talent quest at school. Prob won't ever do it in public again though.