Enriching lives
through understanding mind and behaviour
Psychological practice refers to the application of knowledge, which can be used to understand events, treat mental health conditions, and improve education, employment, and relationships.
Sonia is available to see individuals (child, adolescent, adult), couples, and families in person (Bay of Plenty) and via teletherapy.
Meet The Practitioner
Sonia offers psychological therapy tailored to your individual situation and needs, based on a comprehensive assessment and evidence-based treatments.
Sonia strives to provide a professional service that is warm and friendly where you feel heard, understood and accepted.
Sonia is passionate about helping individuals to enhance their potential.
Services
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders share features of excessive fear and anxiety, and related behavioural disturbances. The anxiety disorders differ from one another in the types of objects or situations that induce fear, anxiety, or avoidance behaviour, and the associated beliefs.
Anxiety disorders may include separation anxiety, phobias, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, selective mutism, panic and agoraphobia.
Bullying
Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate or aggressively dominate others. Bullying is a serious and distressing experience. Many children and young people carry the effects of bullying into their adult lives.
Eating Difficulties
Eating disorders are characterised by a persistent disturbance of eating or eating-related behaviour that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning.
Obsessions/
Compulsions
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterised by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced as intrusive and unwanted, whereas compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
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Other obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are characterised primarily by recurrent body-focused repetitive behaviours (e.g. hair pulling, skin picking) and repeated attempts to decrease or stop the behaviours.
They may also be characterised by preoccupations and repetitive behaviours or mental acts in response to preoccupations.
Sleep Difficulties
Individuals with sleep-wake disorders typically present with sleep-wake complaints of dissatisfaction regarding the quality, timing, and amount of sleep.
Anger
Anger is a very energising and motivating emotion. It is a natural and normal response to feeling threatened, or thinking something is unjust, unfair. It can also lead us into problems.
Challenging Behaviour
One of the biggest challenges parents face is managing difficult or defiant behaviour on the part of children. If a child has difficulties with behaviour, he/she might display opposition to parent or adult requests, be quick to get frustrated or engage in aggressive behaviour.
Grief/Loss
Grieving is a very individual process and how you grieve will be different from how others grieve. Many factors influence this such as your personality, your life experience, how you cope under stress, your faith and of course, the nature of the loss. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief.
Attachment Difficulties
Attachment theory was developed to describe the bond that develops between a child and parent. This bond is a response to the degree to which a parent helps a child to feel safe and secure. Attachment experience leads to the development of an internal working model of the relationship (i.e. a memory or template) that the child has experienced.
This model influences how the child will respond to future relationships. Children develop multiple models of attachment influenced by the range of relationships that they have experienced. Through adolescence and into adulthood, these attachment patterns based on multiple models transform into an attachment state of mind which guides behaviour.
Depression
Common features of depressive disorders include the presence of sad, empty, or irritable mood, accompanied by body and cognitive changes that significantly affect an individual’s capacity to function.
Life Transitions
Parenting Concerns
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. A high-quality parent-child relationship is critical for healthy development.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem describes a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value. Self-esteem can influence our lives in a myriad of ways, from academic and professional success to relationships and mental health.
Individuals may experience phase of life problems including: becoming a parent, adjusting to an “empty nest” after children leave home and retirement.
Relationship Difficulties
Intimate adult partner relationships and parent/caregiver-child relationships have a significant impact on the health of the individuals in these relationships. These relationships can be health promoting and protective, neutral, or detrimental to health outcomes.
Stress Management
Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When you sense danger (whether it’s real or imagined) the body’s defences kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction or the “stress response.” The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. But sometimes these feelings can become so overwhelming that coping with day-to-day life, work, leisure, and relationships becomes difficult.
I am experienced in a wide variety of treatment modalities, however, I predominantly use a cognitive-behavioural approach (CBT) within a bio-psychosocial framework.
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Aaron Beck first introduced Cognitive Therapy. Since then it has evolved to be used with many different kinds of disorders. It is useful for targeting specific difficulties like anxiety and depression by teaching you skills to become aware of your thought patterns and the emotions and behaviours that occur with these.
Change can be facilitated through re-evaluation of these patterns, and learning alternative ways of behaving in your everyday life.
Homework will be given so you are learning to apply strategies for yourself and experiment with different behaviours.
Fees
- Neuropsychology
(50 minutes) $220.00
- Clinical Psychology
(50 minutes) $200.00
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- All fees are GST exclusive
Cancellation Policy
Full fee will be charged if less than 24 hours cancellation notice.​
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This fee also applies if a session is not attended.
Treatment Modality
and Fees
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clinical psychologist?
Clinical psychology is a broad branch of psychology that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders.
When should I see a clinical psychologist?
How can a clinical psychologist help me?
People often consider psychological therapy, also known as therapy, psychotherapy or counselling when:
- They feel an overwhelming and prolonged sense of sadness and helplessness.
- Their emotional difficulties make it hard for them to function from day to day.
- They are troubled by emotional difficulties facing family members or close friends.
A clinical psychologist can help people make positive changes in their lives and relationships and develop skills to manage life’s challenges and be healthy.
How long is each session?
Sessions are typically 50 minutes in duration, however, sessions may be longer when warranted.
Will my information and appointments be kept confidential?
Psychologists are bound by the Code of Ethics for Psychologists working in Aotearoa/New Zealand, The Health Practitioners Competency Act 2003, and the Privacy Act which all provide guidelines on keeping your information private and confidential. Confidentiality will be discussed in the first session.
Do I need a referral from my GP to see a clinical psychologist?
You do not need a referral from your GP unless an agency has requested it (i.e. insurer). You can contact a psychologist and see them without a referral depending on the problem.
What services do psychologists provide?
Clinical psychologists provide counselling and psychotherapy. They work with people who have life adjustment problems, and also with those who have emotional disorders. They provide treatment for people of all ages and to families and groups.
How many sessions will I need?
The length of treatment depends on the nature and
severity of the difficulties.
What is teletherapy?
Teletherapy is providing therapy through a live video connection over the internet. If you've ever used Skype on your computer or FaceTime on your iPhone, you've used the same type of technology teletherapy uses.
What's the process for making an appointment?
It's as simple as clicking the orange button below and filling out the form!
Client Resources
Online Resources
Get Self-Help:
Centre for Clinical Interventions:
Psychology Tools:
Mental Health Foundation:
The Incredible Years
Maternal, Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service:
07-579 8380
After Hours Crisis Team:
0800 800 508
Suicide Crisis Helpline:
0508 828 865
Lifeline:
0800 543 354 or free text 4357 (HELP)
Healthline:
0800 611 116
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