Coming for an appointment
Making an appointment
You don’t need a referral to book an appointment. Simply get in touch either by email, by clicking here, or by phone (020 4188 6847). I can generally answer emails sooner than phone calls. If you call, you may need to leave me a voice message on my confidential answer machine, which I check every day.
Once you’ve contacted me I’ll aim to get back to you within 24 hours, though between Saturday and Monday it may take longer. If I have no current availabilities, I can put you on my waiting list so I can offer you an appointment as soon as I can.
I currently work Tuesday through Friday and see clients on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with my first appointment at 8am, and my last 3pm.
If you have any mobility issues, please let me know when booking an appointment. There are two small steps up to my consulting room, about 10-20 cm each.
This is my current office in Havelock North.
What to expect from your first appointment
Coming to therapy can be pretty daunting, particularly if it’s your first time. It might be helpful to think of it as some you-time, where you’re in focus and you don’t need to worry about anyone else. Most of us rarely get the chance to spend time that is purely focused on ourselves.
Sessions last for 50 minutes and take place in a private and quiet therapy room. It’ll just be the two of us, unless you’d like to bring someone else along. Unless you need a different arrangement, sessions will be at the same time every week.
There are no tests and you don’t need to perform in any way. Nor do you need to prepare anything for our sessions. Simply show up, and we’ll go from there. From experience, the important stuff tends to emerge when it needs to.
I don’t usually take notes in our sessions, as I find it makes it harder to focus on what is being said. I might ask questions or make comments, but generally, I let my clients do most of the talking. I might take some notes in the first session, however, as well as ask more questions than I usually do, so I can get a thorough sense of what’s going on for you.
When you arrive
As you drive up Te Mata Peak Road, Taruna College is on the left, clearly signposted. Driving up to the college, there is a car park on your right where you can park. My office is right next to the carpark. The door is on the right-hand side of the building.
If you arrive early, you’re welcome to walk around the grounds and enjoy the view and peace at Taruna, bearing in mind there are other professionals working in some of the offices.
My office is this building right next to the car park on your right as you drive up the driveway.
Taruna College, where my office is, is just to the left off Te Mata Peak Road.
Fee
The fee is $207 ($180 + 15% GST) per 50 minute session for individual or couples therapy. I’ll email you an invoice after each session and you can either pay by bank transfer or by cash. Payment is be due 24 hours before your next session.
If you have experienced any sort of sexual trauma or abuse in New Zealand, you will likely be eligible for ACC to cover the costs of therapy. Click here for more info.
Client Information & Consent Form
On your first session, I’ll also ask you to read the Client Information & Consent Form and sign it. This form briefly answers some important questions about therapy and about how I practice, outline important policies (fee, cancellation, changing time etc) and explain confidentiality and the limits to confidentiality. You can view the consent form by clicking here, and download it by clicking here.
Contact and Personal Details Form
Once you’ve book in for an appointment, I’ll ask you to complete a Contact and Personal details form, which can be found here. This form covers important information like your emergency contact and your GP details. The form is stored securely and confidentially in my system.