Lesley Hawkins

Dance Movement Therapy Student
Northland Regional Centre

Lesley has extensive experience as a creative health practitioner. With qualifications in Dance Movement Therapy & Counselling (Melbourne) and Social Work (Auckland), she has over 20 years of experience working with both children and adults. She has worked primarily in public and community mental health: residential facilities, hospitals, outpatients, and medical clinics. In 2015 she made Northland her home, more recently settling in the Bay of Islands. During the pandemic she became a Health Improvement Practitioner supporting individuals with their physical and mental health.

In 2025 it has been a joy to revive her own Dance to Life practice and return to study, where she is currently completing a Master of Dance Movement Therapy with Auckland University with the aim to strengthen and embrace this work fully. Lesley's client work experience is diverse, but for the past 10 years trauma has developed as her main speciality.  She is particularly interested in collaborative, bi-cultural approaches, and how the arts work together to enhance health. 

Music has always been a strong support for her dance therapy work so she is excited to extend her skills alongside music therapists, supporting the Northland community with innovative approaches that bring healing and hope.