About Tiaki Whaiaro

COMPASSION INTEGRITY EMPATHY CONNECTION

Tiaki Whaiaro was founded by Kate Berridge, Aotearoa-New Zealand’s most experienced Metabolic Bariatric Nurse Specialist.

Kate started working with metabolic bariatric patients in 2007 when she helped set up the Counties Manukau DHB bariatric surgical service. In her time running the service, she worked with thousands of patients but she could see most needed significant emotional and mental health support after surgery that wasn't available.

In 2016, she left the DHB to complete a Master’s degree on how to be successful in life after weight loss surgery. Her findings now form a significant part of the framework for Tiaki-Whaiaro and its patient care services.

The biggest takeaway from Kate's research is that the level of emotional and mental self-care that patients need after undergoing a metabolic bariatric procedure or taking weight loss medication isn’t intuitive. Most patients will need help to develop mental and emotional tools and skills so they can thrive.

Tiaki Whaiaro’s goal is to share proven self-care strategies and techniques so you can face and attend to your unique challenges. Losing a significant amount of weight isn't the end of your journey - it's the beginning of a whole new life and guidance can be incredibly helpful.

We are passionate & take pride in assisting you on your weight loss journey.

Kate Berridge

Clinical Nurse Specialist in Bariatrics RNcP MN (Hons)
Founder

Kate has been a nurse for over 30 years and is Aotearoa-New Zealand’s most experienced Bariatric Nurse Specialist (Weight Loss Surgery).

As a result of her research and time spent in the hospital system, Kate is now a passionate advocate of whole-person health. Her consultations are built around each individual’s needs and are designed to enable a person to develop their own self-care strategies so that they can lead the healthiest life that works for them.

An important aspect of this is to discover who you truly are. Kate has recently completed the Compassionate Inquiry (CI) certificate - CI is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by world-renowned trauma expert Dr Gabor Mate.

“The purpose of the Compassionate Inquiry is to drill down to the core stories people tell themselves – to get them to see what story they are telling themselves unconsciously; what those beliefs are, where they came from; and guide them to the possibility of letting go of those stories, or letting go of the hold those stories have on them."

~ Dr. Gabor Maté

Book with Kate

Bri Duffield

Registered Nurse RN

Bri is a mum of two and has been nursing for 12 years.

Her background is in emergency nursing but in recent years she's added metabolic bariatrics after going through her own weight loss surgery journey in 2019.

She has become a passionate advocate for bariatric care and empowering people to take control of their health (at any size).

Bri is currently working towards post-graduate education to become a nurse practitioner, specialising in bariatric care.

Book with Bri

Dr Ala Farah

GP – Bachelor of Medicine MB, Bachelor of Surgery BS

Ala is an experienced GP who was born in Sudan, grew up in Dubai and moved to Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2009. She now lives in Hamilton with her husband and three children and runs her own practice.

Her special interest is hormonal conditions - she has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and vestibular migraines.

She is currently working on a fellowship in lifestyle medicine with the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine which provides education and training in the prevention and reversal of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases through behaviour, social and environmental medication.

Book with Dr Ala