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
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I have a particular interest in how estrogen and progesterone influence 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).
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 full for therapy clients. I update availability here, so please check back. I don't keep a waiting list. Returning clients (assessment or therapy), please email me.
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ADHD Assessment
There are changes to how ADHD assessment and meds are handled in Canterbury. The ADHD pathway that for many years has allowed a psychologist assessment report to be used to access stimulant medication through a person's GP is ending on November 30th 2025. From February 2026, people may be able to have stimulant meds started by their GP. GPs are also able to diagnose ADHD, but no-one knows how many GPs will offer this, or how many will feel comfortable managing meds without a psychiatrist involved. If you want an ADHD assessment from me in 2026, your medication options are through your GP or through a private psychiatrist (which will cost several hundred additional dollars). Please ask your GP first to confirm that they are willing to consider a psychologist assessment report for prescription of medication. A GP is under no compunction to accept a psychologist assessment report and to prescribe stimulant medication. I have a blog post on this topic.
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I am currently full for ADHD assessments for 2025. I don't keep a waiting or cancellation list. My next assessments will be for Feb-April 2026 and will be advertised right here mid-January.
Please note that you need to have evidence of symptoms in childhood (prior to age 12) from either school reports or from someone who knew you well as a child. Please refer to my ADHD assessment page for details on the assessment process and required information.
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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.