Elle Brittain

Dr Elle Brittain (she/her/ia) (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Rongomaiwahine) is a Lecturer in Te Kura Hinengaro Tangata, School of Psychology, based on the Pukeahu, Wellington campus. She is also a clinical psychologist.

Her research focuses on Māori experiences as related broadly to psychology, including Māori wellbeing, wairua, spirituality, culturally tailored psychological interventions, equity in mental health, as well as racism and anti-racism. She is eager to understand sites of crisis as well as sites of resistance and strength for Māori, in order to contribute meaningfully to knowledge and to initiate action. From a methodological perspective, she has an enthusiasm for qualitative approaches that focus on meaning-making, namely Kaupapa Māori research, narrative inquiry, and discourse analysis. Ultimately, she sees her work as in service of communities in order to facilitate change, especially for Māori and groups who have greater need.

Elle teaches undergraduate courses in Indigenous psychologies and clinical psychology. She also has input to the postgraduate clinical psychology training programme on the Pukeahu, Wellington campus.