Assessment An initial assessment is a 60-90 minute session focused on gaining an in-depth understanding of your difficulties and clarifying your goals. Treatment Following an assessment session we will discuss a treatment plan which will outline what therapeutic approaches may be helpful for you and how many sessions may be required. Therapy sessions are 50-60 minutes and may be booked weekly, fortnightly or less depending on the goals identified. Therapy is a collaborative process which we will review regularly to ensure we are on track towards your goals.

Find a Psychologist or Therapist in Auckland

Q: Will my information be confidential?

The information you provide is governed by the Privacy Act (1993) and the Health Information Privacy Code. This means your case will not be discussed with any other party without your written permission to do so. Confidentiality may be broken if you are at serious or imminent risk to the safety of yourself or others and we cannot gain your agreement to a safety plan. In these circumstances we will discuss with you what information needs to be shared, with whom and for what purpose. If you have any concerns or questions about confidentiality please do not hesitate to ask us.

Q: How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions required will depend on your individual needs. Therapy may be short term (3-6 sessions) or longer term (12+ sessions). We will discuss what is right for you at your initial assessment session.

Q: What is involved in therapy?

Therapy sessions are around 50-60 minutes. Once goals have been identified following your initial assessment session, therapy sessions will help guide you towards achieving your goals. There are many different therapeutic approaches and you can decide what is right for you with your therapist. Therapy requires time and commitment. A positive relationship with your therapist where you feel heard, accepted and respected is important. This will allow you to be open and develop the trust and courage you need to confront difficulties and make needed changes. In most cases attending therapy sessions themselves is not enough; you will need to actively apply skills and strategies learnt in the sessions in your daily life. We will help you with this by assigning you tasks and challenges to carry out between sessions.

Life is a journey — perhaps it’s been a rough ride and you’re running on empty. You may have lost sight of the road ahead or there are barriers in your path. Whatever direction you want to take we can help you find your way.

Practitioners listed with Crossroads include registered Psychologists, Counsellors and other Mental Health Professionals with training and experience across a broad range of mental health difficulties.

Our directory helps you find a practitioner whose experience, therapeutic approach and availability suit your needs. Your chosen practitioner will work directly with you to understand your concerns, identify your goals and determine an appropriate therapeutic approach.

Areas our practitioners work with

Depression
Anxiety
Constant worries and fears
Panic attacks
Post-traumatic stress
Managing intense emotions
Job or work related stress
Recovery from trauma
Eating disorders
Loss and grief
Communication problems/assertiveness
Relationship stressors
Life transitions and personal growth
Obsessive and compulsive disorder
Psychosis
Self-harming behaviours
Alcohol and substance misuse

Therapeutic approaches offered

Practitioners listed with Crossroads offer a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches. The approaches available will depend on the individual practitioner’s training, scope of practice and experience.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Schema Therapy
Mindfulness based approaches
Narrative Therapy
Play therapy
Imago Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focussed Therapy (EFT) for couples
Gottman Relationship Approach for couples
Solution-Focussed Therapy (SFT)
Sandplay Therapy
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Internal Family Systems Therapy
Compassion-Based Therapy
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Mentalisation-Based Therapy

Practitioner rates

From $180/session

Session length, fees and cancellation policies may vary between practitioners. Please check your practitioner’s profile or discuss these directly with them when booking.

What is the process?

Assessment
Your practitioner may begin with an initial assessment to understand your concerns, relevant history and goals. The format and length of assessment will depend on the practitioner and the service you are seeking.An initial assessment is a 60-90 minute session focused on gaining an in depth understanding of your difficulties and clarifying your goals.

Treatment
Following an initial assessment, you and your practitioner can discuss your treatment goals, therapeutic options and the anticipated frequency or duration of sessions. Therapy is a collaborative process, and your practitioner will work with you to review progress and adapt treatment where appropriate.

Will my information be confidential?

Your practitioner is responsible for maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information you provide to them in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, professional standards and ethical obligations.There are limited circumstances in which a practitioner may need or be permitted to disclose information without your consent, including where there are significant concerns about safety or where disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law.Your practitioner will explain their confidentiality and privacy obligations to you. If you have questions about how your clinical information will be collected, stored, used or disclosed, please discuss these directly with your practitioner.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions will depend on your individual needs, goals and circumstances. Therapy may be short-term or longer-term. Your practitioner can discuss the anticipated frequency and duration of therapy with you following your initial appointment.

Am I eligible for funding?

GP
It may be helpful to discuss treatment options with your GP. Depending on the severity of your mental health difficulties you may be referred to a community mental health team for support. In some cases your GP may be able to obtain funding for a limited number of sessions with a Clinical Psychologist.

Work and income New Zealand (WINZ)
WINZ may provide a disability allowance if your need for therapy is directly related to your disability. They may also help with the cost of transport if required.For further details visit WINZ.

‍ACC
Some practitioners listed with Crossroads provide ACC-funded services. Eligibility and availability depend on the service required and the individual practitioner’s ACC registration or contractual arrangements. Please check the practitioner’s profile or enquire directly about ACC-funded services. For further details visit ACC.

‍Health Insurance
Some insurance policies have a provision for mental health and may fund a number of sessions with a Clinical Psychologist. Discuss this with your insurance provider to check your eligibility.

What is involved in therapy?

Depending on the therapeutic approach, your practitioner may encourage you to practise skills, strategies or activities between sessions to support progress towards your goals.

Can a Clinical Psychologist prescribe medication?

Clinical Psychologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication however they may work alongside your GP or Psychiatrist if medication is indicated to support your treatment. A Clinical Psychologist specialises in the use of evidence based talking therapies to help you to understand your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences. They will support you to develop insight and strategies to help you reach your goals.

How much do New Zealand psychologists charge per hour?

Psychologists in private practice have varying hourly rates, although typically charge around $200-$250 per 50 min session. Initial appointments may be longer (90minutes) and therefore incur a higher fee. Specialised assessments and report writing may be charged at a set rate for the assessment or per hour of writing.

Is seeing a psychologist free in New Zealand?

Your GP may be able to help you determine if you are eligible for free sessions with a Psychologist. They can assess what level of support would be best for you, and they know about the local services in your area if you need them. All district health boards fund primary mental health services. There may also be specialist Māori and Pasifika services in your area. These services are for people who meet mental illness criteria, so will usually need to be referred by your GP. Unfortunately, not everyone struggling with mental health difficulties will meet the criteria. See below for some other free and low-cost options:
Ask your GP about funded sessions that may be available through your local primary health organisation (PHO), you may be eligible for a number of free counselling sessions with a Psychologist.

You may be able to seek assistance through a WINZ Disability Allowance.
If you are in paid employment you may be able to access free confidential counselling through your company’s employee assistance programme – talk to your employer.

Youthline has free counselling for young people aged 12–25 years and their families in various locations across Auckland and also Dunedin.

Gumboot Friday funds a number of sessions for anyone under 25. You will need to find a Psychologist who is registered with their organisation. Find out more here.

ACC funds support following sexual violence under the sensitive claims contract. Find out the details at FindSupport.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a therapist?

The term therapist is a generic term that may be used by a range of professionals who provide assessment and treatment (e.g., counsellors, psychologists, life coaches, psychotherapists). It is not a legally protected title as is the case with the term “Psychologist”. The term Psychologist is legally protected. This means someone must be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, and meet their training and ethical requirements in order to call themselves a Psychologist. Psychologists in New Zealand generally have Masters or Doctoral level university qualifications. So, a Psychologist is a type of therapist that is trained to a high level in evidence-based treatment approaches.