AJ Darrah

I am a Senior Clinical Psychologist registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. I like to work with people to help them understand themselves better and meet their goals. I am committed to evidence-based methods using a compassionate and flexible approach.

Areas of Special Interest

I have experience working with a variety of needs including:

• anxiety
• trauma
• affective/mood disorders
• substance use issues
• personality
• behavioural issues
• developmental disorders
• gender, and sexual functioning

Counselling/Therapy Services

Therapy can help you to become more aware of yourself, your values and develop greater understanding of what motivates you. It can assist you to explore your emotions, thoughts and behavior; find purpose and meaning in your life; improve your relationships; be more relaxed and manage stress; develop your sense of well-being; plan and set goals; engaged in self care. You can apply skills learnt in therapy to other areas of your life. People often find addressing one thing they are struggling with (e.g. mood), can also help in other areas (e.g. anxiety).

Therapy is a collaborative process. We will start by completing a consent process, to ensure you understand and can make decisions about assessment and treatment. We will talk about the difficulties you are experiencing, and more generally about your life and your resources and coping skills. Together we agree on the goals we are working towards (sometimes, these goals and the plan are revised along the way). This usually includes tasks to practice or complete between sessions.

Together we can build the insight and skills to manage and work through the problems you are experiencing.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

I am trained in, and experienced in employing, various treatment approaches including:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Brief Solution Focused Therapy
• Systemic Family Therapy

Each of these approaches have been shown to be effective in supporting clients address a variety of concerns. I work in a flexible and collaborative manner, tailoring treatment to the needs of each individual. I provide a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic environment for clients.

Background and Experience

Since completing my training as a clinical psychologist, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings including community mental health, disability services, and forensic services.

I have experience supporting individuals with a broad range of issues such as anxiety and mood difficulties, phobias, stress, burnout, and coping, adjustment to loss and life changes, trauma, and behavioural issues.

I have worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

Supervision Services

My supervision training ulitilised a competency-based approach allowing me to provide supervision to a variety of professions working within their competency framework. I have provided supervision to Clinical Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Mental Health Nurses, and Programme Facilitators.

I provide strength-based, reflective supervision. Previous supervisees have stated they appreciate the warm, safe supervision environment provided. They have consistently fed-back they appreciated the containment and growth supervision provided, as well as the opportunity to ‘get it wrong’ and working through it. I work with supervisees to identify particular areas of growth and development they are wishing to undertake and together we work towards these goals.