Kia ora
My name is Margery Somervell, and I’m the school counsellor at Devon Intermediate.
I grew up in Central Hawke’s Bay on a dairy farm in a large family. I later moved to the Waikato, studying Geography and History at Waikato University. In my early twenties, I trained as a Youthline Counsellor and continued my counselling studies while raising our four children.
In 1998, our whānau moved to Raglan, where I began a 20-year teaching career. Now, we live in Okato village, Taranaki, and for the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of working at Devon Intermediate as the school counsellor.
I’m incredibly grateful to support this important age group, as pre-teens navigate so many changes and challenges. My approach to counselling is warm and client-centred, drawing on narrative therapy as well as Interactive Drawing Therapy and Sand Play Therapy when working with students.
I feel fortunate to be part of such a supportive school community and look forward to continuing to work alongside our students and whānau this year.
Ngā mihi,
Whaea Margery
