My name is Joanna and I am a Registered Psychologist currently working at the Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Service (CAF) at Te Whatu Ora and 1 day per week at the Children’s Specialist Centre (CSC). I completed my training at the University of Canterbury in 2019 and began working in specialist mental health (SMHS) in 2020. I work in a compassionate, warm, and trauma informed way.

I predominantly work with children and adolescents experiencing complex mental health difficulties including mood difficulties, anxiety difficulties (e.g. OCD, specific phobias, generalised anxiety, social and separation anxiety), disordered eating, Tic Disorders (including Tourette’s), self-esteem and identity issues, and provide parenting support.

I have a particular interest in working with children, adolescents, and young people with trauma, including developmental trauma and attachment difficulties (e.g. C-PTSD), discrete episodes of trauma (e.g. PTSD), as well as people with dissociative experiences.

The main therapy modalities I utilise are Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP).

I conduct a limited number of Autism assessments and Cognitive assessments for children and adolescents. I do not currently complete ADHD Assessments.

*We are currently not able to accept referrals for ADHD assessments.