Our Services

How can we help?

When you or one of your family members are suffering from an unexpected change in mood, or when you simply require a better understanding of why someone seems so different or things seem so stuck, a compassionate professional service is what you need. Clinical Psychologists and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists are equipped to handle a comprehensive range of psychological challenges and our therapists will support you and your family to reach your goals.

​You can be assured – every care will be taken with you and your family.

What can you expect?

The first appointment usually includes a comprehensive discussion about both the concerns and the child and youth’s earlier development leading up to them. Exactly what is asked will depend on what the presenting concerns and goals for coming are. Usually, this first appointment takes an hour and a half. If there are any safety concerns, these will be assessed and a plan developed to address them in the first appointment – please be sure to bring any safety concerns up immediately so support can be put in place.

Sometimes psychometric assessment tools, such as international standard questionnaires, are used to provide additional objective information that can be compared to other children the same age and gender from the population sample. If you agree it will be useful, information may also be collected from teachers in the form of both psychometrics and written forms. Initial forms are included in the cost of the appointment but consequent ones are charged extra (they are usually under $10 each).

When the assessment is complete, a plan for therapy will be discussed and agreed upon. This often means weekly or fortnightly appointments (or ‘sessions’ as they are called) for anything from 4 – 12 sessions. How long it takes generally depends on the severity and complexity of the disorder/difficulties and the motivation of the person or people in therapy. As you can imagine, if there are multiple challenges and an unmotivated individual then more time will likely be needed.

Our Services

Individual Mental Health Assessment

All therapies start with an assessment, to develop a joint understanding of the concerns, including how they have developed, what triggers and maintains them, and what is helping. If appropriate, a mental health diagnosis is made based on the latest DSM-V international diagnostic criteria, American Psychiatric Association (2014). This assessment might also include the use of Psychometric Assessment, using international standard questionnaires/assessment systems with local normative samples.

Initial Assessment & Therapy Fees (inclusive of gst)
- ​Initial Psychological Assessment (80 mins): $395.00
- Psychological Therapy session (50 mins): $220.00
- Senior Clinical Psychologist Initial Psychological Assessment (80 mins): $450.00
- Initial Counselling session (80 mins) $270.00
- Counselling session (50 mins) $180.00
- Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy session (50 mins) $180.00

Medication Consultation - with Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist when under the Totally Psyched team
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Consult (45-50 mins): $569.25
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Consult (Complex) (90 mins): $862.50

Individual Mental Health Assessment | Totally Psyched

Individual Play &/or Talk-based Therapy

Specific therapies are selected based on whether treating a child or adolescent, the kind of difficulty they are facing and what research shows is most effective. Including:

- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Based Therapy
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Behavioural Therapy
- Schema Therapy
- Psychoanalytic & Gestalt-informed Psychotherapy
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Individual Play &/or Talk-based Therapy | Totally Psyched

Family Therapy

Family based approaches to support individuals and the entire family, as required:
- Narrative Family Therapy
- Systemic Family Therapy

Family Therapy | Totally Psyched

Psychiatric Medication Consultation

After specialist assessment/consultation from a Totally Psyched Psychologist our Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists are available to discuss diagnoses and medication options, review your current medication and/or make medication adjustments as part of your child's treatment plan. This can include for:

- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Tourette's & Tics
- Autistic Spectrum (ASD) related anxiety/anger/agitation

Medication Consultation Costs with Specialist Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist:
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Initial Assessment Consult: $569.25
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Consult: $281.75
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Initial Assessment Consult (Complex) (90 mins): $862.50

Psychiatric Medication Consultation | Totally Psyched

Educational & Academic Assessment

Educational & Academic Assessment is usually helpful if/when:
- an underlying learning/intellectual disability or difficulty is suspected, providing a clearer picture of what areas are affected and recommendations for what will help
- a school needs to make an application for Special Assessment Conditions for exams

The usual process
Educational Assessment is carried out by our Senior Specialist Educational Psychologists
- Brief Initial Consult (15-30 mins)
- Intellectual (cognitive) assessment (60-90 mins)
- Academic assessment (120 mins)
- Full verbal feedback about the results and recommendations with parents and with child/adolescent if preferred (60 mins)
- Comprehensive report with assessment findings, diagnoses (if relevant), Special Assessment Conditions application & recommendations for school &/or home
- Internal referral to multidisciplinary team for further support where needed (with shorter/no wait times and team discussion in support)
TOTAL COST: $1,980 (incl gst)

Educational & Academic Assessment | Totally Psyched

Group Therapy Options

Totally Psyched offers a variety of Group Therapy programs, tailored to suit the varying needs of your child or adolescent. Please contact the practice on (09) 320 3086 or referrals@psyched.org.nz for specific details on dates.

Our groups include:

'Parenting the ADHD Brain'
A six week ADHD Workshop Series for parents providing friendly support, information and strategies for understanding and ADHD management from an expert on ADHD Dr Sarah Watson, Senior Clinical Psychologist

'Brick Club'
LEGO-based social skills therapy group that runs over one term and is 7-12 year old's on the Autistic Spectrum, with Social Communication difficulties, ADHD or general social skills difficulties. The program is focused around Lego play within a group, with a skilled Educator and Counsellor facilitating group social skills during the building process. Loads of fun and a less structured option to SAS for the more socially developed child that could do with more practice and support.

'Wise Minds'
An emotion regulation group to support our young teens that struggle with managing their emotions. An eight week program that helps equip struggling adolescents with the skills, support and validation they need to succeed with managing their emotions and themselves. Developed and lead by our Teen expert Clinical Psychologist Dayna Cooper

'Totally Obsessed'
A 12-16 week group for children and adolescents (different groups) with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This narrative based group is a fun and motivating way to 'boss back OCD' together with others who get it and equally want to reduce their symptoms. Run by Totally Psyched expert Clinical Psychologists.

Group Therapy Options | Totally Psyched

Parenting Support

- 'Parenting the ADHD Brain' six week parent seminar series for parents, running each school term
- Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) – qualified practitioners will individually tailor the program to your family’s needs
- Incredible Years Parenting Program – qualified practitioners will individually tailor the program to your family’s needs

Parenting Support | Totally Psyched

Specialist Autism Spectrum (ASD) Assessment

At Totally Psyched we provide comprehensive international gold standard multidisciplinary assessments for Autism, specialising in High Functioning Autism (formerly known as Aspergers). This assessment uses a combination of information and observations from parents, teachers and our clinical team. Led by one of our fully trained and experienced Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychologists and in consultation with our Psychiatrists the assessment usually takes around two-three hours and includes:

- Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R): is one of the most widely used diagnostic assessment structured interviews in determining whether or not children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Together with the ADOS (below), it is the diagnostic tool of choice for many mental health professionals when evaluating kids suspected of being on the spectrum.

- The Childhood Autism Rating Scale–Second Edition (CARS2): a professional rating scale used to identify children with autism and distinguishing them from those with developmental disabilities. It is empirically validated and provides concise, objective, and quantifiable ratings based on direct behavioral observation.

- The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS): a play-based assessment designed to assess reciprocal social interaction and communication, play, and use of imagination

- You will be provided with a Diagnostic Report on diagnoses, the testing completed & Recommendations for school and home.

- Referrals to WINZ or Taikura Trust (if appropriate)

Usual Cost (this can vary): $1,435.00 (incl gst)

Optional extras include:

- Intellectual/Cognitive Assessment (using the WISC-V A&NZ): the latest version of the most proven trusted cognitive ability measure ever. It is an intelligence test that measures a child’s intellectual ability and 5 cognitive domains that impact performance. The profile of functioning can help identify areas of giftedness, understand weaknesses and help in clarifying ASD diagnosis (recommended add on)

- School Observation: one of our team goes incognito to your child's school to unobtrusively observe and complete a structured observational assessment of social and emotional behaviour

- Adaptive Behavioural Assessment of daily functioning (if required)

- Academic Assessment (WIAT-III) for Learning Disorder comorbidity (e.g., Dyslexia, Dysgraphia etc)

- General psychological and psychiatric screener assessment questionnaires completed by parents and adolescents (for themselves): to rule in or out other mental health conditions potentially affecting functioning

Specialist Autism Spectrum (ASD) Assessment | Totally Psyched

Specialist ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Assessment

At Totally Psyched we provide comprehensive international gold standard multidisciplinary assessments for ADHD that are second to none. This assessment is for children aged 6 - 18 years and uses a combination of information and observations from parents, teachers and our clinical team. Led by one of our specialist trained Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychologists and in consultation with our Psychiatrists the assessment usually takes two-three hours. The assessment usually starts with a discussion with parents, going over early development to current functioning and any areas of concern. The assessment is specific to ADHD but also includes a broad mental health screen to ensure the appropriate diagnosis is being made and to rule in or out if another diagnoses might also be appropriate. Information is collected from parents, teacher(s) and the child/teen themselves. After the assessment, if ADHD is diagnosed a quicker transfer can the be arranged to one of our Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists if medication is of interest and indicated.

Whether the ADHD assessment is likely for the inattentive, hyperactive or combined type and usually includes:

- Full clinical interview with a specialist trained Child & Adolescent Psychologist: gaining an understanding of their development from birth to the present, identifying any potential ADHD diagnostic criteria and discussing any other concerns

- ADHD assessment questionnaires completed by parents, teacher(s) and adolescents (for themselves)

- School Report and observations completed by teachers

- General psychological and psychiatric screener assessment questionnaires completed by parents and adolescents (for themselves): to rule in or out other mental health conditions potentially affecting functioning

- Specialist neuropsychological assessment (CATA & CPT3) of how the child or adolescent's attentional system is currently functioning compared to their same-aged peers: Using computer-based testing, the team are able to get an accurate understanding of how well a person is able to focus, maintain their concentration over time, manage distractors, remain vigilant, control their automatic impulses - both visually and audibly (through sound). This is then analysed and statistically compared to other (from a very large sample) boys or girls their age in order to see which parts of their attentional system are affected beyond that which is typical for their age, if any.

- You will be provided with a Diagnostic Report on diagnoses, the testing completed & Recommendations for school and home.

- Referrals to WINZ or Taikura Trust (if appropriate)

Usual Cost (can vary): $1,350.00 (incl gst)

Optional Extras Include:

- Specialist Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist consultation to discuss medication treatment options (after diagnosis has been made)

- Intellectual/Cognitive Assessment (using the WISC-V A&NZ): the latest version of the most proven trusted cognitive ability measure ever. It is an intelligence test that measures a child’s intellectual ability and 5 cognitive domains that impact performance. The profile of functioning can help identify areas of giftedness, understand weaknesses and help in clarifying ASD diagnosis

- Neuropsychological assessment of executive functioning (planning, organising, switching)

- Academic Assessment for Learning Disorder comorbidity (e.g., Dyslexia, Dysgraphia etc)

- School Observation: one of our team goes incognito to your child's school to unobtrusively observe and complete a structured observational assessment of social and emotional behaviour to feed back to the assessment team

- Adaptive Behavioural Assessment of daily functioning (if required)

Specialist ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Assessment | Totally Psyched

Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy

Child psychotherapy is predominantly about relationships, meaning that challenges are most effectively understood within the relationships one has with oneself, one’s family and the greater context. It aims to help children and their families make meaningful change through a greater understanding of what lies beneath and informs behaviours. A Psychotherapeutic approach recognises that the child’s language is often play and acknowledges this medium to be expressive of their worries and difficulties from an unconscious level. For this reason of achieving depth, child psychotherapy can be longer term, given the pace and development of trust in the therapeutic relationship.

An initial assessment is needed to form a comprehensive picture of your child and how they view themselves and the world they live in. This is done over a course of four sessions, where first the therapist meets with you, the parents, alone (90min), to build a picture of your child’s development thus far as well as the presenting difficulties. This is followed by two child only sessions (50min), where the therapist observes your child in play closely. Followed lastly by a meeting with the parents (child not present) where a path forward is discussed (50-90min)

Indication of Costs:
Psychotherapy Initial Assessment (up to 90 mins) $270.00
Psychotherapy Session (50 mins) $180.00

Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy | Totally Psyched

Sensory & Occupational Therapy Comprehensive Assessments

OCCUPATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
An Occupational Therapy Comprehensive Assessment is recommended for school aged children and takes between 90-120 minutes. The fee covers the assessment session and report writing. During this time various areas are assessed including:

- Sensory processing & sensory integration
- Retained primitive and postural reflexes
- Gross motor skills: balance, ball skills, body awareness, sequencing and organisation of movement
- Fine motor skills: hand manipulation skills, fine motor speed, development of grips and grasping, cutting skills
- Handwriting skills: pencil grip, letter formation, writing pressure, writing speed, writing legibility, posture, paper position
- Visual motor integration: coordinating the eyes with the muscles of the body
- Visual perceptual skills: how we interpret what our eyes see
- Auditory and Visual memory

COST: $450.00 (incl gst)

SENSORY INTEGRATION/MODULATION ASSESSMENT
A sensory integration assessment is recommended when the sensory system is suspected to be under or over performing, such as when a child/teen responds extremely to sight, sound, touch, smell and/or taste. It usually takes around 60 minutes. Significant disturbances in the sensory system can lead to potential diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Mesophonia and/or lead to a program to address, support ad correct the underlying sensory system modulation. An assessment includes:

- Information from parents
- Information from Teachers
- A clinic based sensory assessment with the Occupational Therapist
- Report of sensory system function and a treatment plan
- Ongoing OT sessions in support of this program are optional ($150 per 1 hour session)

COST: $250.00 (incl gst)

Sensory & Occupational Therapy Comprehensive Assessments | Totally Psyched