CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Brent has extensive experience working in the clinical space including both mental health and correctional work. He has worked with numerous psychological disorders including extensive personality and trauma backgrounds. Brent specialises in formulating an individual’s difficulties and assessment and treatment of the clients he works with. He completes a high quantity of psychological assessment and treatment reports and has completed assessment reports to the NZ Parole Board and the NZ Courts.  

 

Brent primarily uses Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy interventions with his work. However, one size does not fit all, nor is any individual the same, this he focuses on walking beside his clients in achieving best practice. Brent also utilises Mindfulness Based therapies, Schema Focused therapy, Trauma related therapies and Compassion Focused therapies to help customise a strengths-based approach to best suit his clients. 

Brent aims to listen to a client's journey and help people reach their potential to be the best they can be in all aspects of their lives. He prides himself on providing a reliable and genuine experience to all his clients. Brent places a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and providing a space which allows clients to explore their difficulties in a safe, supportive, confidential and trusting environment. He will take an individual formulation approach to his practice considering the biological, social and psychological aspects of difficulties.  Within this, Brent will work with clients to identify the most appropriate evidence based treatment approach within the available time. He is committed to helping individuals to achieve their full potential, identify individuals values and helping them achieve their goals.

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Brent offers a confidential and sensitive service to his clients providing evidence-based psychological therapy, including assessment and treatment for a range of emotional, behavioural, and psychological difficulties.

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Brents clinical work focuses on working with older adolescents and adults with a wide range of problems including sports performance, depression, anxiety, phobias, personality disorders, eating disorders, work-life balance, pain management, anger management, stress management, goal setting, grief and trauma. He has a current interest in working with athletes from varying sports, businesses, organisations and individuals seeking to understand and manage areas that may be affecting their personal and professional lives. This often includes areas such as work-related stress, low self-esteem and confidence; making decisions, and perfectionism.

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Brent meets for regular supervision and has a commitment to continuous professional development to improve his skills through training and workshops as well as regular consultation with other psychologists in order to provide the most effective therapy. 

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How can he help you?

Psychological therapy is all about helping you to resolve your difficulties. Brent will discuss your specific difficulties and the goals you want to achieve. Therapy often involves hard work during and between sessions.  Brent won’t tell you what to do, but will help you decide what difficulties you want to work on that will help improve your situation.  He will also help you take the skills you have learnt in session and apply them in your daily life after therapy ends.

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Sessions  can be booked weekly, fortnightly, monthly or whatever suits your requirements.  The number of sessions you will need depends on what you may need support with.  Often initial appointments are more frequent and then are spread further apart as distress or difficulty decreases.  You may even find that one session is enough. On average, people require between five and 20 sessions. Brents aim is to meet your requirements and help you to attain your goals. 

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In general,  psychotherapy is tailored to meet your specific goals by:

• Helping you learn skills for managing difficulties

• Helping you understand and change the way your thoughts affect how you feel and act

• Helping you become aware of, and understand your emotions

• Helping you to understand how experiences in your life, even as far back as childhood, can affect the way you think, feel, and act now

• Exploring and changing the way you relate to and communicate within your family and other relationships

• Helping you understand how a psychological disorder developed and what keeps it going, so that you can take charge of it

• Helping you and/or your family understand and cope with an intellectual or learning difficulty you may have

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Common Difficulties I Assess and Treat:

• Anxiety (panic, phobias, general)

• Health Anxiety

• Social Anxiety

• Low Mood or Mood Disorders (depression, bipolar, emotion regulation)

• Low Self Esteem and Confidence problems

• Bereavement, Grief and Loss

• Adustment Issues

• Coping with Medical Conditions, and Health-Related Problems (including: HIV, cancer, diabetes)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Trauma 

• Sleep Problems

• Stress / Work Related Stress

• Personality Disorders

 

Referrals can be through your GP, Physio or any medical practitioner or via self-referral.​