At the Child and Family Psychology Centre, face-to-face / in person appointments are preferred, though we do recognise the value of offering telehealth / telepsychology services and have a number of appointments that are delivered this way. Telehealth/Telepsychology involves delivering psychological services through digital communication technologies. I offer this via video and occasionally, phone calls. I do not offer services via email, or messaging services. In my website and booking information, you may see the terms ‘telehealth’, ‘remote’ or ‘video’ used interchangeably to describe these consultations. A remote consultation remains a professional client-psychologist interaction and you can expect an equivalent standard of care from me for a consultation conducted in this way. There are a number of benefits and limitations of remote consultations, which are included below. Initial consultations will always be in person unless there are circumstances that mean this is not possible. Consultation fees remain the same regardless of the format used. Benefits include: accessibility – allowing us to reach clients who may prefer not to travel for whatever reason; continuity of care - for existing clients or those who may need to move or travel, telehealth ensures continuity of care without interruptions; comfort – clients may prefer to be in their own space. We may also be able to offer more flexible appointment times for telehealth appointments. Risks include: Technology Issues - technical problems, such as internet connectivity or platform glitches, could affect the quality and continuity of sessions; confidentiality - if you do not have a secure, private space without interruptions from others, confidentiality may be compromised; limited non-verbal cues - online communication may limit the ability to interpret non-verbal cues fully, potentially impacting the therapeutic process. There are situations where telehealth services are not appropriate. These include: emergency situations - in the event of a crisis or emergency where the client poses a risk to themselves or others. In these cases, clients should seek help from emergency services or call a crisis hotline; severe mental health conditions - in some cases, severe mental health conditions may require in-person care for a higher level of support and supervision; particular needs - certain psychological assessments or interventions may require in-person interactions. If telepsychology is not indicated or no longer indicated, the psychologist may recommend switching to face-to-face appointments. We use an encrypted platform for the provision of our telehealth services. The details for your session will be provided ahead of your consultation.

INITIAL CONSULTATION: An initial consultation is typically an 85-minute session focused on gaining an in depth understanding of you as a person, what has prompted you to seek help, and clarifying your goals. It’s an opportunity for you to decide if we can work together in an effective and supportive way. We’ll agree on a direction for future sessions, including what therapeutic approaches are likely to be helpful for you. ONGOING: Ongoing sessions are typically 55 minutes and may be booked weekly, fortnightly or less regularly depending on the needs and goals identified. We will periodically review how the therapy is going, to make sure we are on track. A therapeutic relationship with me where you feel heard, understood and safe is important to allow you to be open and develop the trust and confidence to examine and address.  Usually, attending therapy sessions is not enough; you will need to actively apply skills and strategies we’ve discussed in the sessions in your daily life. From time to time, I’ll give you information, resources and activities to review and carry out between sessions.

The number of sessions required will depend on your individual needs. Therapy may be short term (3-6 sessions) or longer term. We will discuss what is right for you at your initial consultation and keep this under review ongoing.  In some cases, if you are coming to see me through your employer or a not for profit organisation funding your therapy, there will be a limit on the number of sessions that are funded. The relevant organisation will make you aware of this and any process to apply for ongoing funding, if we determine that is required to address your treatment goals. Therapy can be continued beyond approved external funding, on a private/self-funded basis.

Initial appointments are typically 85 minutes (a 90-minute time slot allocated to you), with follow up consultations typically 55 minutes (a 60 minute time slot allocated to you). The additional five minutes at the end of your appointment allows me to complete my session notes for your consultation.

Psychologists are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication however they may work with your GP or Psychiatrist if medication is indicated to support your treatment and continuity of care. A psychologist specialises in the use of evidence-based therapies to help you to develop insight and better understand your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences. They can also assist you to develop strategies to help you achieve your goals. I regularly work with medical professionals involved in individuals’ care.

You are welcome to bring a support person or family / whānau member to your appointment, to either provide support or to join actively with you in the session. Naturally, a couples session will involve both partners, though there may be occasions where I will meet with each of you separately.  For consultations involving young people, I will typically spend some time in the initial consult with the parent(s) alone, then both young person and parent(s) together and perhaps the young person alone. This will be tailored to individual circumstances. 

I typically see young people from the age of around 12-14 upward. Please note that consultations with young people (under 16) require the approval of those involved in the young person’s care (e.g., parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

The information you provide is governed by the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. This means your case will not be discussed with any other party without your written permission to do so. The exception to this is if you are at serious or imminent risk to the physical safety of yourself or others. In these circumstances I will discuss with you what information needs to be shared, with whom and for what purpose.  If you have any concerns or questions about confidentiality, please do not hesitate to discuss this with me.