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My apologies, I am not meeting new clients at this time.

ABOUT

Hi. I’m Daniel. Thanks for looking at my website.  

 

Starting therapy can be a big move. It’s important there is a good match between the therapist and their approach, and what you need. With that in mind, please read through the following information.

 

You will find:

  • What I help with

  • What is stress?

  • What is anxiety?

  • Other services

  • My experience and approach

What is stress? 

Stress is a normal part of life. Even happy and rewarding events can place stress on us mentally, emotionally and physically. Stressors can crop up in many life domains, and may include relationships, work, and major changes. When stressors overwhelm our coping resources for too long, we may become chronically stressed. 

 

Signs of stress include: 

  • Feeling nervous or on edge 

  • Feeling overwhelmed or out of control 

  • Feeling agitated, irritable or intolerant

  • Overreacting

  • Muscle tension or headaches 

  • Struggling to relax 

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Other services

Many people who experience stress and anxiety also struggle with other problems. I work with people experiencing stress and anxiety as their primary difficulty. If any of the following are more pressing issues for you, please contact the services listed below.  

 

Alcohol / drug use 

  • Contact CADS to discuss your situation and best support options.  

 

Attention difficulties 

  • If you have significant attention difficulties that are longstanding, and believe you may have ADHD, contact ADHD NZ.    

 

Depression, self-harm or suicidal ideation 

  • If you are experiencing symptoms of low mood or depression, or are at risk of self-harm or suicide, please talk to your GP, or contact 1737 (available 24 hours a day) for support and referral to more relevant services.

  • In a crisis visit www.mentalhealth.org.nz/help for steps to take. 

  • In an emergency call 111.  

  • If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, these resources (1, 2) may be helpful.

 

Please note that I do not start therapy with people who are at risk due to experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges to self-harm.  

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Eating disorders 

 

Internet / gaming problems 

 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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If any of these are the primary issue for you, please contact the services listed. If you would like to work with a clinical psychologist, the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists has a useful website, including search criteria to find a suitable therapist. 

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What I help with

I work with adults (18 years and older) experiencing stress and anxiety. 

What is anxiety?  

Anxiety is characterised by worry and a tendency to avoid things that may trigger it. I work with people experiencing symptoms* of social anxiety, generalised anxiety and panic.  

 

  • Social anxiety involves fear of negative evaluation in social and performance situations, and the urge to avoid such settings.  

  • Generalised anxiety involves worrying about many different types of activities and events, finding it hard to manage this worry, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep issues.  

  • Panic attacks include symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, numbness or tingling. Panic disorder includes having repeated panic attacks, worry about the attacks, and unhelpful attempts to prevent them.

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(*Therapy can help people whose symptoms meet criteria for a diagnosis, and those who experience 'sub-clinical' symptoms). 

My experience and approach

If you managed to get through all of that, well done! Now I will talk a bit about my experience and approach.  

 

I am a clinical psychologist registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, and a member of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists.  

 

I have worked in various settings since 2012, including community mental health, university health, and private practice, offering brief, medium and long-term therapy to a wide range of people. I have facilitated CBT groups for anxiety, DBT groups for emotional regulation, mindfulness groups for academic success, and a CBT based eTherapy programme. 

 

I practice active forms of therapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and strategies from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). I combine these cognitive behavioural approaches in the form of Process Based Therapy – presenting the most relevant knowledge and skills needed for each person.  

 

When we first meet, I will focus on getting to know you, your situation, and what you want. I’ll ask you questions and get you to fill out some questionnaires. We will use psychological theories and models to make sense of how your stress or anxiety came about, and what keeps it going. This is important so we can set goals and make a plan. Then we will experiment with evidence-based approaches, reflect on how well they are working for you, and add, tweak, or change them as needed. 

 

When therapy ends, I hope you will leave with greater self-awareness, and knowledge and skills to use throughout your life. 

Contact

If you believe you are experiencing a stress or anxiety related issue, and you like the sound of the way I work, please email me, including brief details about what you would like to work on, and I will contact you about meeting. You can find my email address here. 

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