Contacting Me

To make an enquiry about engaging my services, please either call or email me, and I will respond as soon as possible on the day. My business hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm. My phone will be switched off outside of these hours, and whilst I am in sessions with clients.

Scope of practice and qualifications​

I am a registered Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience, and bound by the New Zealand Psychologists Board’s Code of Ethics. I am a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society, a professional association for psychologists working in NZ. I have a Masters Degree with first-class honours in Psychology, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology.

To learn more about what Clincial Psychologists do you could look at www.psychology.org.nz, the website for the New Zealand Psychological Society, under the “Community” tab, for information about psychologists and how we work.

Experience and Expertise

I have experience within both the public and private mental health sectors. Early on in my career, I worked in Child and Family Therapy, but since then have worked predominantly with adults presenting with a wide range of moderate to severe mental health difficulties, including 14 years working in a hospital inpatient mental health unit, with patients in an acutely distressed state. I have spent a number of years contracting to an organisation specialising in psychological welbeing and resillience in the workplace. I have experience and training in a number of therapeutic models, with a particular interest in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Narrative Therapy. This enables me to adapt and work collaboratively with clients to help make sense of their current difficulties and achieve their goals.

I have skills and experience across a wide range of areas: from working with individuals right through to large groups, supervising clinical psychologists and other professionals, and facilitating workshops and training sessions.

Benefits of therapy

Therapy can help to process distressing emotions and past experiences, identify old patterns that are no longer serving one well, and learn new ways of relating to oneself and others. It can enable healing and growth. However, these benefits are not guaranteed. People vary in their response to therapy for many different reasons. As with any process designed to bring about change, there are challenges to participating in therapy. It can be distressing to reflect on, and address, difficulties in one’s life. Also, be aware that making changes in one’s life is not always easy and may take a bit of time and energy, so it is important for clients (and their support people) to be patient and to “stick with it” even when it feels difficult. I try to support my clients to work towards their goals as quickly and effectively as possible.

Benefits of Telepsychology

There are many benefits to Telepsychology, such as the therapist and client not having to be in the same location, not having to allow for travel time to and from appointments, and being able to conduct the session from any location (work or home).

I regularly check in with my clients as to whether our sessions are meeting their needs. If for any reason I consider  that Telepsychology is no longer the most appropriate form of contact for a client, I will discuss options of engaging in in-person sessions with me, or referring to another professional in their location who can provide appropriate services.

Confidentiality

All the information clients share with me and any written records (e.g. clinical notes) related to that information is confidential, with a few exceptions:

• Supervision and consultation: I meet regularly with another Clinical Psychologist for supervision. Discussing my work during supervision helps me to further develop my clinical skills and ensure I am providing the best possible care for each of my clients. At times, I may also seek additional supervision and/or consult with other professional colleagues. The purpose of any additional supervision or consultation would be to learn from colleagues who have worked with similar issues. I would never reveal any identifying information about my clients during these discussions.
• Safety concerns: If I believe my client or someone else is at imminent risk of serious harm, I am ethically and legally required to break confidentiality to try to keep them safe. If I ever needed to break confidentiality because of safety reasons, I do my best to discuss this with my client first.  
• Legal requirements: If requested, I may have to provide my clinical notes to a court of law or the New Zealand Psychologists Board. In either of these circumstances, I would do my best to discuss this with my client in advance.  

Confidentiality and Telepsychology

The extent of confidentiality and the exceptions to confidentiality outlined above still apply in Telepsychology. I also have a legal and ethical responsibility to make my best efforts to protect all communications that are a part of our Telepsychology.  However, the nature of electronic communications is such that I cannot guarantee that communications will be kept confidential or that other people may not gain access to these. To provide the best level of confidentiality possible:

I will:

• endeavor to use updated encryption methods, firewalls, and back-up systems to help keep client information private, but there is a risk that electronic communications may be compromised, unsecured, or accessed by others.  
• take all reasonable steps to ensure clients’ privacy by conducting the session in a place where it is unlikely that anyone will overhear or interrupt our conversation.

I ask the client to:

• take reasonable steps to ensure the security of our communications (for example, only using secure networks for Telepsychology sessions and having passwords to protect the device they use for Telepsychology, including their phone).  
• participate in therapy only while in a room or area where other people are not present and cannot overhear or interrupt our conversation.

I do not engage in Telepsychology with clients who are currently in a crisis situation requiring high levels of support and intervention.  Before engaging in Telepsychology, we will develop an emergency response plan to address potential crisis situations that may arise during our Telepsychology work.

Clinical notes

I make written notes during and/or after sessions. No-one else can see a client’s notes without their written permission.

Telepsychology sessions will not be recorded in any way unless agreed to in writing by mutual consent and I will maintain a record of the session the same way as in-person sessions, via written notes.

Ending therapy

Clients can choose to stop attending therapy at any time. During therapy, issues may emerge which are beyond my scope of practice. If a client wanted to focus on addressing those issues, I would need to refer them to another professional with the necessary skills and/or training. Also, if it became clear that a client was not benefitting from therapy, we would discuss when to end therapy and I would offer to refer them to another professional if appropriate.    

Complaints

If a client has concerns about me as a psychologist, I encourage them to talk to me first so that we can try to resolve any issues. If they do not feel comfortable talking to me or are dissatisfied with my response, then they can contact the New Zealand Psychologists Board on 0800 471 4580 or online at www.psychologistsboard.org.nz/raising-a-concern.

Session fees

The fee for a 55-minute session is $200 plus GST and applies to both in-person and Telepsychology. Payment can be through internet banking. You will be sent an invoice following each session. Payment is appreciated within 7 working days of receiving the invoice.

Bank details for internet banking are as follows:

J S Becroft
ASB
12-3019-0592636-02

Please use your initials and date of session (e.g. WF 10Jan19) as reference.  

Cancellation policy

Please let me know (if possible) at least 48 hours in advance if you need to change or cancel your appointment. Less than 48 hours’ notice makes it difficult for me to fill the session time. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ noticeor non-attendance will be charged at half of the usual session rate (i.e. $100 plus GST), except in the event of serious emergencies.

Emergency Access

I am unable to provide a crisis service as a sole practitioner. Clients in crisis require the services of a wrap-around, 24-hour service.  In addition, due to my current working hours, it is unlikely that you will be able to reach me in an emergency. If you are in a state of crisis requiring urgent support, then please utilise the following options:

• Phone 111
• Go to your nearest hospital emergency department (A&E).
• Afterhours Community Crisis Team for emergency assistance.  These services are part of the public health system and are free.
  – Auckland DHB: 0800 800 717 (Operating 24/7)
  – Waitemata DHB: (09) 486 8900 (Operating 24/7)
  – Northland: (09) 430 4101 ext 3537 Mon -Fri 8:00am-4:00pm, After hours 0800 223 371
  – Counties Manukau DHB: (09) 261 3700
  – Waikato DHB: 0800 505 050 (Operating 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) Counselling for people (or people who know people) who are thinking about suicide.
• Mental Health Helpline: 1737 (Operating 24/7) Free call or text anytime to talk to a trained cousellor.
• Lifeline:  0800 543 354  (Free text 4357)      
• Youthline: 0800 376 633      
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666
• Phone your GP.

If the situation is less urgent, you should go to your GP. GPs can help you access the other services you need.