Clinical Psychology Services
I am a clinical psychologist based in South Christchurch, seeing adult clients (aged 18 and over) both in-person and via Zoom nationwide.
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I provide individual psychotherapeutic treatment for:
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ADHD and autism
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Anxiety disorders
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Mood disorders
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Relationship problems (individual therapy)
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Sleep disorders
I provide ADHD assessments for adults (18+) in person in Christchurch and via Zoom nationwide (see more details about ADHD in the box below).
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I have an interest in how estrogen influences ADHD, autism, and other mental health symptoms across the lifespan, including premenstrually, at perimenopause, and menopause.
Therapy is delivered from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. I use evidence-based talking therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
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I am available to lead information sessions or workshops on ADHD and neurodiversity, and have done so for health, education, and corporate groups.
I am also able to provide training and supervision on ADHD assessment to GPs and NPs who wish to extend their skills for assessment and treatment of ADHD from February 2026. Please see here for a pamphlet regarding what I, and several other clinicians, can offer.
Check out my blog:
CURRENT AVAILABILITY
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Therapy
I am currently not accepting new clients. Email me if you would like to be added to my waiting list. Previous clients, please email me.​
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For women recently diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, and based in Christchurch, there is a group treatment programme run by clinical psychologists Kate Harris and Felicity Daly,
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ADHD Assessment
ADHD bookings for February to April are now OPEN. I can see clients face-to-face in Christchurch or via Zoom anywhere in New Zealand. Please email me to secure a screening interview.
There are two things I need to know, and which I will ask you, before offering a screening interview appointment:
1. That you have evidence of symptoms prior to age 12 (that you have a parent, or other person who knew you well as a child that I can talk to, and who can remember some symptoms and/or that you have school reports that show possible ADHD symptoms).
2. That your GP or nurse practitioner has confirmed to you that they would consider prescribing stimulant medication based on a psychologist's assessment report. Click here to see a list of medical pratices in Canterbury and whether they have declared they will accept a psychologist assessment report.
If you cannot say yes to these two questions, then I am not the best person to do your assessment, and I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist instead.
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Please refer to my ADHD assessment page for details on the assessment process, price, and information required for assessment.​​​
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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 Australasian 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.