The first goal of therapy is to understand what is getting in the way of having a rich and meaningful life, and secondly, work on a plan to move towards how you would like your life to be. This can include changing some activities or behaviours, understanding how your thinking impacts how you feel and act, or working on how you relate better to others. Specific problems, including anxiety disorders or depression, may benefit from evidence-based treatment. Learning new ways to face challenges may help you manage situations more effectively.

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An important building block of successful therapy is the therapist and client's respectful and positive collaborative working relationship. Over the years, I have worked with people from different backgrounds and continue to learn from each new person I see.

Talking about problems can be informative in understanding the experiences that have shaped a person, but real change comes from a willingness to do things differently. Self-knowledge does not usually lead to an epiphany that changes your life (as attractive as that idea sounds). Change may feel uncomfortable, but flexibility in thought and action makes therapy and life more successful.

The therapist-client relationship is confidential. Family, parents, adult children, or workplaces are not entitled to information about the client, even if they are paying for the sessions. An exemption is if I receive information suggesting that a client or others are at risk of harm. While I can break confidentiality to take appropriate action in these circumstances, I would endeavour to speak with the client first. Health professionals can also share information about their mutual client (e.g. talking to a GP or psychiatrist), but again I would attempt to speak to the client before this. For more information on confidentiality in healthcare, you can look at the Health Privacy Toolkit.

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I work by the Code of Ethics for psychologists in Aotearoa/New Zealand. For more information on the governance of psychologists in New Zealand, please see the New Zealand Psychologists Board.

I take handwritten notes on an electronic device during sessions. These are securely stored for ten years in accordance with the Health (Retention of Health Information) Regulations 1996. Clients are welcome to access their records on request.

My fee is $200 per 50-minute session, including GST. At the end of the session, payment is made by EFTPOS, credit card, or cash. An invoice can be emailed for online bank transfer after the session by arrangement. Receipts can be provided.

The number of sessions a person needs will vary depending on what they want help with. It also depends on how ready they are to try new things learnt in therapy between sessions to make meaningful changes. Some people can get by with a few sessions to set them on track, others half a dozen, others a dozen or more for more long-standing problems or those of greater severity. Sessions may start weekly if the person needs immediate help with behaviour change to make changes to a significant issue, but could move to fortnightly or less frequently as therapy progresses. Some people prefer six-weekly or less frequent top-up sessions once their main problems are improved, and they want to retain the motivation to continue working on their issues.

My fee for adult ADHD assessments starts at $1800. Please see the Adult ADHD Assessment section on this page for more information.

A WINZ Disability Allowance can be used to subsidise therapy sessions. You don't need to be on a benefit to receive a Disability Allowance. Still, you do need to meet income limit requirements - see Counselling - WINZ or Studylink for details, including the application form.

The maximum allowance is $78.60 a week. The subsidy can be used to subsidise weekly sessions or saved over two weeks to provide a higher subsidy for fortnightly sessions. If you wish to apply for this allowance, please contact Petra to discuss it.

Please give as much notice as possible if you have to cancel an appointment. Appointments that are unattended or cancelled with less than 24hrs notice will be charged at 50% of the normal rate. I send a text message or email reminder of your appointment the day before.

A no-show to an appointment will be charged 50% the rate of the appointment and will forfeit any future appointments with me.

I am based at 20 Gamblins Road, St Martins. There is parking on-site behind a white fence off Ngaio Street (perpendicular to Gamblins Road). The building is accessible via stairs and a ramp off Ngaio Street. My room is spacious (allowing for 2m social distancing), is light-filled, has heaps of plants, and is furnished with comfortable high-seated furniture. On arrival, clients head to the waiting room in the sunroom of the house.

I offer internet therapy using the Zoom video conference application. This also allows clients from across New Zealand to access my services. Zoom will work on a computer, tablet or smartphone with an easy-to-download application and allows for video calls. Generally, clients and therapists alike find that video-conference therapy sessions work similarly to face-to-face meetings and, in my experience, are an improvement over telephone sessions. See How to Use Zoom for more information about how Zoom works.

I offer supervision for professionals working in assessment or therapy with clients with ADHD.

There is a high demand for both ADHD assessment and therapy, and I encourage psychologists to consider offering these services. I see ADHD therapy clients via Zoom from across the country, and many people seek my help because they cannot find an ADHD-informed psychologist in their region. Increasing the availability of ADHD-informed psychologists would be beneficial, and I offer supervision to help psychologists enhance their skills in the psychotherapeutic treatment of ADHD and related issues, including autism.

In Canterbury, psychologist assessment reports can be used to access stimulant medication through the public health system, where demand for these assessments far exceeds supply. While assessments must be of "gold standard," clinicians do not need to reside in Canterbury to perform them, as telehealth assessments are common. If you are a clinical psychologist considering conducting ADHD assessments for Canterbury-based clients, I offer supervision sessions to discuss the ADHD assessment and report guidelines provided by the public health service. I can also provide outlines for telephone screenings and reports, review assessment reports, and offer ongoing supervision if desired.

My rates for supervision are the same as for therapy sessions. Please email to inquire.

I do not provide neuropsychological assessment of cognitive impairment or dementia. I believe the public system can adequately cater for dementia assessment, diagnosis and support. For those interested in pursuing this, I suggest talking to your (or the affected person's) GP, who can follow the Cognitive Impairment Pathway of the Health Pathways resource published for GPs in Canterbury. GPs can refer to the Older Persons Mental Health service for more complicated cases and guidance.

I do not offer capacity assessments. In most cases a medical practitioner will be required to perform these (e.g. GP or psychiatrist).

I do not provide ACC-funded assessments or treatment.

I do not provide assessments of therapy for people under 18 years old. I do not provide assessments for autistic spectrum disorder or other developmental disorders.

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I cannot prescribe medications. A GP or psychiatrist must do this. I also cannot provide special authority codes for stimulant medication.

I do not offer opinions or assessments for driver safety. Again, the public system has a pathway for this.