The Psychology Centre

Our Goals 

The Psychology Centre is part of the Clinical Psychology Training Programme at UC. The Centre's goals are:

• To provide a high quality psychological service to our clients
• To provide a high standard of teaching to the Clinical Psychology students who train within the Centre
• To be fully committed to bicultural practice and offer Te Ao Māori models of health

Meeting the needs of students and clients

As a training centre we strive to involve Clinical Psychology students in assessment and treatment in ways that meet the needs of both the student and client. Before working in the Centre students have already completed four years of University study in Psychology and are in the process of completing three years of advanced training in Clinical Psychology. The students are closely supervised in their training by experienced Clinical Psychologists.

The Centre has some capacity to provide a service to clients who do not wish to have a student involved.

Our commitment

We want to provide our clients with a high level of service, so if you see us we will work hard to:

• Work with you to understand your difficulties in a respectful manner
• Provide honest feedback and advice
• Respect your privacy according to our ethical and legal obligations
• Practice in an ethical fashion according to the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights Regulations, and the Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Assessment

We offer a range of cognitive assessments including:

• Specific Learning Disability
• Intellectual Disability
• Possible early onset dementia
• Adult ADHD
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

At the end of an assessment you will receive a comprehensive report.

Therapy

We offer cognitive behaviour therapy for a range of difficulties including:

• Depression
• Stress management
• Adjustment to work and life changes
• Relationship problems
• Anxiety management
• Relationship and communication problems
• Grief and loss
• Anger management
• Sexual difficulties

We offer ten individual sessions initially. We then review progress and offer further therapy if required. We may also refer onto other specialist mental health services or community support services.

Pause Breathe Smile - Mindfulness-based group for Children

• 8-week course held at UC for children aged 8-11 who struggle with stress and anxiety.
• Parent and child will learn key mindfulness practices, including mindful breathing, mindful eating, mindful movements, and 'Pause Breathe Smile'.
• Exploring how we can enhance happiness; looking at the world with curiosity; learning about our emotions and the brain; and growing kindness, compassion and connection.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction courses

• 8-week evening course held at UC.
• Offers people the skills and support to cultivate greater awareness of the present, through the development of mindfulness practices.
• Effective for managing stress and anxiety, regulating moods, managing pain and illness, enhancing wellbeing, and training attentional abilities.
• Previous attendees report that they are better able to look after themselves, are less prone to "sweat the small stuff" and are more able to enjoy life.

Self-Compassion Course

• 8-week group course held at UC.
• The course offers people the skills and support to build self-compassion and self-esteem, in doing so, reducing self-criticism.
• Self-compassion involves being aware of and bringing kindness to our experiences of pain and suffering.
• Research has found that Self-Compassion focused therapy is effective in managing stress and anxiety, regulating moods and improving overall mental well-being.
• Register here from the 18^th January 2021- spaces are limited!
• The course will be run by two Clinical Psychology Trainees with the support and supervision of a Senior Clinical Psychologist.

We consider self-referrals and referrals from professionals such as General Practitioners.

Some needs are better dealt with elsewhere, so you will be asked some brief questions on the telephone when you call. If your problem is not suitable for our Centre we will try to direct you to other services that may be able to help.

Unfortunately, we are currently closed to new referrals for our Adult Therapy and Assessment waitlists, and our Child and Adolescent Therapy and Assessment waitlists. We will continue to provide updates to this webpage on the status of our waitlists.

The Psychology Centre

Fees for 2022

Does your child struggle with anxiety or stress? Would you like to support them to learn skills to enhance their wellbeing?

• The Psychology Centre offers Pause Breathe Smile(PBS), a group for children (age 8-11 years) who struggle with stress and anxiety and their parents to develop skills of mindfulness.  PBS is an evidence-based program, developed by the Mental Health Foundation, found to improved focus and attention, enhance self-awareness and reduced stress.
• To hear kids talking about PBS watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awo8jUxIm0c
• For more information about the research and benefits of PBS look at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1707/S00094/pause-breathe-smile-mindfulness-training-will-help.htm
• For more information or to enquire about our next course, please email psychclinic@canterbury.ac.nz. 

• The Psychology Centre is offering an 8-week group course aimed at teaching skills and offering support to build self-compassion and self-esteem, in doing so, reducing self-criticism.
• Research has found that Self-Compassion focused therapy is effective in managing stress and anxiety, regulating moods and improving overall mental well-being.
• The course will start on the 15th March 2023 and run on Wednesdays 12:30-2pm for 8 weeks and be held at the University of Canterbury. Cost is $250 for the course and materials.
• If you would like to know more about the course see here: Self-Compassion Course
• For more information or to register from the 18th January 2023 (spaces are limited) please email psychclinic@canterbury.ac.nz