WELCOME
I am a clinical psychologist working in South Christchurch. I see adult clients (aged 18 and over) in-person and by Zoom nationwide. I provide individual psychotherapeutic treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, adjustment to life circumstances, relationship problems, adult ADHD assessment, and therapy for adult ADHD. I also have a good understanding of autism and neurodiversity in general. I use the evidence-based talking therapies of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Therapy: I have space for new therapy clients both in-person and via Zoom nationally for immediate start (0-1 week). Self-referrals are fine. Please email me. Note that I am not ACC registered. I also cannot offer international Zoom sessions as I am restricted by my NZ psychologist registration (as we all are) to working to clients physically in New Zealand.
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Adult ADHD assessment bookings are closed for 2023
Bookings will next be advertised here mid-January 2024 by 8am. I do not keep a waiting list or cancellation list and I do not advise the specific day that bookings are advertised.
See here for details of what my assessments entail.
Email me for a list of psychologists and psychiatrists who advertise that they assess adult ADHD.
Check out my blog:
ABOUT PETRA
I am a registered clinical psychologist trained at the University of Canterbury, graduating in 2012. For nine years (2011-2020), I worked in a public health interdisciplinary team at the Older Persons Mental Health Service. I have worked with people dealing with a full range of mental health problems, from outpatients to day clinic patients, to those very unwell in the inpatient ward. I have worked with people with chronic and recurring mental health problems and those experiencing their first episode of mental unwellness.
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I also performed neuropsychological assessments, so I know a fair bit about how brain function is affected by a range of factors, both internal (e.g. neurodevelopmental differences and degenerative brain disease) and external (e.g. brain injury due to trauma or chemical exposure, including alcohol).
I do not offer neuropsychological assessment privately.
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In private practice I work with people with a range of mental health, neurodevelopmental, and life problems issues. I can see people from all around the country via Zoom. You can see more of the kinds of problems I work with here.
QUALIFICATIONS
I completed a PhD in psychology in 2011 and qualified as a registered clinical psychologist in 2012 at the University of Canterbury. My PhD focused on older adults determining driving ability, both in cognitively healthy older adults and those with cognitive impairment, including dementia.
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2012 - Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClinPsyc)
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2011 - PhD in Psychology
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2007 - Bachelor of Arts Honors (first class) in Psychology
Member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists
Member of the Australian ADHD Professionals Association
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PERSONAL
I live in Christchurch with my husband (also a clinical psychologist) and our two young children. I enjoy walking on the hill, listening to podcasts, reading, and sitting in silence in my small amounts of spare time.
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DO YOU NEED IMMEDIATE/EMERGENCY HELP?
I do not provide an emergency help service. For those in Canterbury, there is the Crisis Resolution service through the Canterbury District Health Board. The government-sponsored Need to Talk service is accessed by free call or text 1737 or 0800 1737 1737.