I work with adults and individuals in late adolescence, in private practice at Fine Tune Healthcare in Christchurch.
I'm happy to meet with clients both in my office and via online consults for clients who prefer this.
Currently my first free spaces for new therapy referrals are later in 2026 and my waitlist is typically 6-9 months.
I am unable to undertake assessments for autism spectrum and/or adhd assessments for some time, but should you wish to join a waiting list for assessment later in 2026 I will contact you with an appointment.
I am unable to accept new referrals for ACC Sensitive Claims clients at the moment.
Contact
Address: 177 Innes Road, St Albans, Christchurch 8052
Email address: cwest99@gmail.com
Contact outside appointment times
I no longer have a work landline, so please make contact via email, and I will call you as soon as possible. It would help me if you could indicate some suitable times for me to call you back.
Please note that I cannot provide crisis care, so if I am unavailable and the matter feels urgent please call your doctor or the Crisis Resolution Service at Hillmorton Hospital, ph 03 364 0482.
About my services
Therapy provides a safe place to explore our often hidden thoughts and feelings. For many, this may be the first time they take the opportunity to identify these thoughts. As we begin to understand them more, their origins, and basis in reality, we’re able to decide whether those beliefs are helpful or still serve us. We can make more constructive choices about how we deal with our circumstances.
Some studies tell us that the relationship between the therapist and the client is the single most important factor in successful outcomes, so it’s important to me that every client experiences a working relationship which is collaborative and compassionate in nature.
I’m also passionate about building healthy communities, and believe each of us has a crucial part to play in this. Support for individuals to learn about wellbeing, healthy relationships, and to live their best lives possible is one way I can contribute to increased community wellbeing.
I’ve worked as a clinical psychologist since the early 1990s, and prior to that as a speech language therapist. My clinical practice has involved both public health settings, and private practice. Over this time my areas of interest have been in the areas of neuropsychology, family and couple relationships, recovery from historic trauma, childhood sexual abuse, grief, mediation, depression, anxiety / stress management, and employment related difficulties.
Services
The decision to seek therapy with a clinical psychologist is sometimes influenced by the need for a comprehensive psychological assessment for a particular condition, such as post traumatic stress disorder, or depression, but it can also be because we notice we’ve been feeling low for some time, or worried and afraid for some time. Some people notice they have very low self-worth which hinders them in relationships or in their work, some may notice they feel as if they’re at a crossroad in their life and can’t make decisions about the way forward, and some may feel as if they’re stuck in some unhealthy patterns of behaviour or thought, and want help to change the way they live their life.
I work with people making life changes, wanting to recover from depression, anxiety, workplace stress, loss, grief and trauma, difficult or chronic medical conditions, challenging couple or family relationships, and neurodiversity; including diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum and ADHD. I provide supervision to other clinical psychologists, and to allied health professionals.
I’m trained in and use a number of different therapy approaches to inform my work, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization, and Reprocessing Therapy, and Intensive Short Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
I hold contracts with ACC to work with the impact of both sexual abuse and physical injury.
Qualifications
MA (Hons) in Psychology
MA (Applied) in Clinical and Community Psychology
Post Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences, in Advanced Psychotherapy
Certificate of Core Training in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
Professional memberships
New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Association of Australia
Information Sources
Here are some links and resources that may be helpful:
For Mental Health Information and Education Resources in Christchurch and the South Island
For help to stay well:
http://www.depressionsupportnetwork.org.nz/
https://www.balance.org.nz/information/wrap
https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/home/ways-to-wellbeing/
https://www.justathought.co.nz/
Autism Spectrum Resources
For more information on autism:
Altogether Autism (www.altogetherautism.org.nz, 0800 273463), and Autism New Zealand (www.autismnz.org.nz, 0800 288 476).
Check out information and updates :https://www.ted.com/playlists/153/the_autism_spectrum
And you tube, for the same, especially Wendy Chung on new understandings about Autism Spectrum, and Michael John Carley.
Read: Asperger’s Syndrome and Anxiety: A Guide to Stress management, by Nick Dubin
And : The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum by Jane Nugent, Emma Goodall, Jeannette Purkis and Yenn Purkis
Autism NZ runs support and social groups for adults on the Autism Spectrum
Tony Attwood is a clinical psychologist whose website provides an abundance of information for individuals with AS and their families. His website is: http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/
www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/a-z/resource/8/autism-spectrum-disorders
Resources and Information: https://www.autismresources.co.nz/
Autism New Zealand, and Altogether Autism both have extensive reading and lending libraries for adults, which would be good to access.
Books of Interest
When the Body Says No, the Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Maté.
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, by Gabor Maté
Lost Connections by Johann Hari
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan Heath